No charges in Far North District Council investigation

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has completed an investigation into matters relating to the Far North District Council (FNDC).

Following an internal enquiry at FNDC, then newly-elected Mayor John Carter asked the SFO to investigate activities of concern between 2009 and 2013. The SFO launched an investigation in May 2014.

SFO Director, Julie Read has decided that there is insufficient evidence to commence a criminal prosecution for serious or complex fraud against any person.

“The investigation found evidence that both council members and employees apparently failed to comply with internal systems and controls designed to ensure that proper processes were followed in the approval of council projects and the expenditure of public money. However, these are failures of governance and procedure and no evidence of the intention required to commit a criminal offence was found.”

The SFO thanks the FNDC for their cooperation in this matter.

ENDS

© Scoop Media