![AnneTolley PaulaBennett [3news.co.nz + zimbio.com]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/annetolley-paulabennett-3news-co-nz-zimbio-com.jpg?w=500&h=238)
Ministers: Anne Tolley & Paula Bennett
### ODT Online Mon, 15 Jul 2013
Proceeds of crime forfeited
By Hamish McNeilly
Police have seized millions of dollars worth of assets – including almost $1 million from criminals in Otago and Southland – since a tough new law came into force. The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act took effect on December 1, 2009. Assets worth an estimated $29 million have been forfeited, including cash ($10.48 million), properties ($13.67 million) and vehicles ($2 million). […] Figures released to the ODT under the Official Information Act show 14 assets with an estimated value of $862,105.22 have been forfeited in the Southern district.
Read more
● Whereabouts of Michael Swann assets?
People can contact Dunedin police on (03) 471-4800 or via the anonymous Crimestoppers line, 0800-555-111.
—
Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
*Images: 3news.co.nz – Anne Tolley, zimbio.com – Paula Bennett
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Filed under Business, CST, DCC, DCHL, DVL, DVML, Economics, Hot air, Media, Name, New Zealand, Other, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium
Tagged as Anne Tolley, Beneficiary-bashing, Carisbrook, Carisbrook Stadium Trust, Councils, Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, Criminals, CST, DCC, DCHL, Delta, Delta Investments Ltd, Delta Utility Services Ltd, Department of Internal Affairs, DIA, Dunedin City Council, Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, Finance, Gangs, Good Old Boys (GOBs), Jacks Point, Luggate, Mongrel Mob, Murray Acklin, National-led government, OAG, Office of the Auditor-General, ORFU, Otago Stadium, Paula Bennett, Peter Dunne, POKIE RORTS, Private trusts, PROFESSIONAL RUGBY, Racing, Real Estate, Rugby, Sanctimonious PRICKS, SFO, Stadiums, The Trusts Charitable Foundation (Inc), The Trusts Community Foundation Ltd, TTCF, Welfare dependence, White collar crime, White collar criminals NEAR YOU
![AnneTolley PaulaBennett [3news.co.nz + zimbio.com]](https://dunedinstadium.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/annetolley-paulabennett-3news-co-nz-zimbio-com.jpg)
Ministers: Anne Tolley & Paula Bennett
What if? Dunedin... 
### stuff.co.nz Last updated 05:00 16/07/2013
Parole a luxury ‘lifeline’ for Swann
By Blair Ensor
A notorious fraudster who still owes New Zealand millions of dollars will be freed from jail to live with a prominent Christchurch businessman in his Banks Peninsula mansion. The Press can reveal that Michael Andrew Swann, 51, will be paroled to Alasdair Cassels’ Governors Bay property worth about $1.35 million. The home has an indoor pool and harbour views and is surrounded by a vineyard. […] Cassels is a director and majority shareholder of Cassels and Sons Brewery and owns the Woolston Tannery complex. He confirmed yesterday that Swann would be living with him and his family, but only expected it to be for a short time. […] Swann will be employed by a Christchurch company doing engineering and biotech work.
Read more
****
### ODT Online Tue, 16 Jul 2013
Convicted fraudster Swann freed
By Rosie Manins
Convicted Dunedin fraudster Michael Swann will be released from prison at the end of this month and will live and work in Christchurch, the New Zealand Parole Board says. Swann will remain on parole until May 2018 and be subject to special conditions for six months after that. […] Swann became eligible for parole on May 24.
Read more
It looks like the jolly well-off looking after their own. This job Swann’s going to – was it available to anyone else with that skill set, or could it conceivably have been constructed just for him? A generous employer or one being helped to pay a salary of a certain scale, thanks to – I know nothing could be more far-fetched, regard this as a wild canter into the realms of fiction – the release of funds that family and friends have had in their special piggy-banks in anticipation of this day?
And so generously, so cooperatively, Mr Cassels who “first met Swann many years ago, but did not consider him a close friend” in response to a phone call from Swann offers this prisoner on parole the opportunity to live in en famille in his “Banks Peninsula mansion”. Such outstanding kindness to a man convicted of monstrous dishonesty, who has to this day shown no sign of remorse nor determination to repay what he stole – and he’s being trusted to live in such luxury! Such an uncommonly lucky prisoner, it’s much more common for those who don’t have suitable family to struggle to find a boarding situation that will accept them, if they don’t have a bank account they have great difficulty opening one (into which WINZ can pay benefit till they find a job) without documents such as an account in their name from a utility company! Yeah, the phone or electricity bill from when they were in the Milton Hilton, a reference from their landlord, their passport or birth certificate. You wouldn’t believe how many people leave prison without these vital papers – or maybe you would. Maybe you’d find that easier to believe than the innocent yellow ribbons of benevolence that adorn Swann’s path back into the good life.
Strong views
Submitted by russandbev on Tue, 16/07/2013 – 9:29am.
It is great to see Richard Thomson, in his past capacity of DHB Chair, pass on his views on the impending early release of Swann with particular reference to clear anger and frustration that Swann, as a convicted thief, got away with millions of dollars of public money, has no sign of remorse, and has failed to cooperate with Police or anyone else in revealing where the rest of the money or assets are.
Mr Thomson is clearly justified in his strong views and so it is strange that he, as a City Councillor, doesn’t seem to extend those views to those that have equally been instrumental in causing millions of dollars of ratepayers’ money to be lost on activities that many in the community believe have been “regrettable”.
Not for one instant would I suggest that this report of friendship shown to one person, has any relevance to friendship shown to any other person. Relationships are so complex, so individual, aren’t they. And this one shows just how obliging NZ’s Good Samaritans can be, so we’re proud-as – right?
“Bankrupt property developer Jamie Peters had an unofficial arrangement for a $6000 monthly salary and to have his rent covered for work done for the business of a close colleague during his bankruptcy.
Peters said last month he had found it “pretty hard to survive” on $150,000 given to him by business associate and close friend Michael Skates through another friend’s eftpos account during two years while he was bankrupt.
However, in court today another close colleague, Michael Webb-Speight, said Peters received $6000 a month and was put up in a Remuera townhouse worth $1.425 million by Consent Management Ltd Partnership (CMLP), despite having no formal contract with the company….”
– continued on http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8924864/Bankrupt-had-undeclared-income-court
I wonder if his strong views on Swann are strategic given an election is coming up. Never mind those local cowboys who have milked the system for their own good…all done legally of course. Then Richard goes silent for the cause of accountability. It doesn’t add up.
Isn’t it interesting that according to the ODT on Swann this morning that a nurse informed local Police of a shed near the airport containing, perhaps, a store of a dozen cars belonging to Swann. She never heard back.
How many others have made complaints to the Dunedin Police that have resulted in much the same inaction – or even the grace of feedback?
I would suggest that if anyone knows this nurse or knows more of this possible cache of cars waiting for Swann’s impending release, that they get her to urgently contact the Independent Police Conduct Authority to investigate just why she never received any communication from the local Police.
### ODT Online Wed, 17 Jul 2013
Swann’s parole house ‘average’
By Rosie Manins
Notions of convicted Dunedin fraudster Michael Swann living in luxury while on parole are exaggerated, Christchurch businessman Alasdair Cassels says. Swann (51) will be released from prison to live at Mr Cassels’ Governors Bay home on July 31. The property is reportedly worth about $1.3 million and includes an indoor pool and harbour views. But Mr Cassels, whose business interests include The Cassels and Sons Brewery, described his house as “average”. […] Mr Cassels said he had known Swann and his family for between 15 and 20 years and was happy to accommodate the former Otago District Health Board employee.
Read more
### ODT Online Wed, 17 Jul 2013
Three luxury cars bought by Swann yet to be recovered
By Rosie Manins
[…] A register of Swann’s known assets includes a $60,000 1960 Mercedes-Benz, a 1993 Mercedes and a 1974 Jaguar not accounted for. They are three of 22 cars on the register, which also lists properties, boats, motorcycles and cash. Swann paid more than $5 million for the 48 items on the asset register. Police have seized all but the three luxury cars and four trailers. The assets recovered predominantly sold for less than they cost. The police have recovered, according to the latest assets list, about $3.6 million from Swann’s assets.
Read more
### ODT Online Thu, 18 Jul 2013
SDHB failed to file submission before Swann hearing
By Hamish McNeilly
The Southern District Health Board failed to file a submission before convicted fraudster Michael Swann faced the New Zealand Parole Board last month. SDHB chief executive Carole Heatly said yesterday the board was ”not aware” Swann (51) had appeared before the parole board on June 13 until it was reported in the media.
Read more
****
### ODT Online Thu, 18 Jul 2013
Editorial: Swann: a travesty of justice
The anger in Dunedin and Otago is palpable. The man who conned, swindled, stole and defrauded us all is to be freed from prison after serving less than half his sentence. Michael Swann, the Otago District Health Board IT manager, who with Kerry Harford, defrauded the board of $16.9 million, is to be paroled from July 31, having spent four years and eight months in jail. He had been sentenced in 2009 to nine years and six months.
Read more
### ODT Online Fri, 19 Jul 2013
Safety parole board’s criterion
By Hamish McNeilly
Community safety is the most important consideration for the New Zealand Parole Board when it makes a parole decision. The parole board was an independent statutory body which considers offenders serving a sentence of more than two years in prison, for release on parole. According to the 2011-12 annual report the total number of hearings held by the board was 9427, and the number of individuals seen, 4995. Judge Warwick Gendall QC said the board’s role was not to determine whether or not an offender had been “punished enough” or whether or not the sentence was long enough.
Read more
****
### ODT Online Fri, 19 Jul 2013
‘Precious’ funds spent on legal fees over Swann
By Hamish McNeilly
The cash-strapped Southern District Health Board would have to spend “precious funding” on legal fees because of Michael Swann’s continuing refusal to co-operate, the board’s parole submission says. Figures released under the Official Information Act reveal the SDHB spent $393,767 (exclusive of GST) in legal costs relating to Swann (51) over the past five financial years. SDHB chairman Joe Butterfield noted in a parole submission “the board is compelled to spend yet more precious funding in legal fees in an attempt to overcome the obstacle created by Mr Swann’s lack of response”.
Read more
Garrick Tremain – 19 Jul 2013
### ODT Online Wed, 24 Jul 2013
Help should have been parole condition
By Hamish McNeilly
Convicted fraudster Michael Swann should have assisted authorities with the return of stolen proceeds or be made to serve his entire prison sentence, Sensible Sentencing Trust Otago-Southland spokesman Gil Elliott says. He said he was disappointed Swann would be released on parole at the end of the month.
Read more
### ch9.co.nz July 18, 2013 – 6:42pm
ODT Interview: Hamish McNeilly
Convicted fraudster Michael Swann is due to be released from prison at the end of the month. The release of the 51-year-old means he will have spent four years and eight months in jail for defrauding the Otago District Health Board of $16.9 million. ODT police reporter Hamish McNeilly has followed the case, and recently attended parole hearings.
Video
Good comment from Jonkey at ODT Online
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/266268/souths-rich-mostly-better#comment-46556
### ODT Online Tue, 30 Jul 2013
New Crown monitor for health board
By Eileen Goodwin
Former ACC chief executive Jan White, of Wellington, has been appointed Crown monitor of the Southern District Health Board, replacing Stuart McLauchlan, who has retired from the role. The board was assigned a Crown monitor because of its poor financial state. Mr McLauchlan was in the role four years, for which he received $35,000 a year.
Read more
### ODT Online Wed, 31 Jul 2013
Swann out today, with $6m order
By Hamish McNeilly
The convicted fraudster has spent four years and eight months in jail for his part in defrauding the former Otago District Health Board of $16.9 million. Last month, the New Zealand Parole Board decided to order his release on July 31, which includes special release conditions. They include his being forbidden to handle other people’s money or invoices for any business or commercial enterprises.
Read more
### ODT Online Thu, 1 Aug 2013
Swann freed, but where is he?
By Rosie Manins and Hamish McNeilly
Fraudster Michael Swann was released from prison on parole yesterday, but his whereabouts remained unknown last night. Under his parole conditions, Mr Swann (51) was ordered to live with Christchurch businessman Alasdair Cassels. Mr Cassels told the Otago Daily Times last night he had not yet seen Mr Swann but had spoken to him by phone. He said he was unsure whether Mr Swann would be living with him.
Read more
Victorian mall in Chch underway
Meet the man developing an upmarket Victorian shopping arcade in industrial working class Woolston. Video
http://casselsbrewery.co.nz/
Stuff 26.1.13 Tight-knit family behind tannery project
Stuff 14.3.12 Victorian shopping arcade for Woolston
### ODT Online Fri, 9 Aug 2013
Police seize Rolls-Royce from container
By Hamish McNeilly
A luxury car concealed in a container has been seized, but Dunedin police say it is too early to confirm it belongs to convicted fraudster Michael Swann. Concerns were raised after an attempt was made to remove a container from Port Otago’s Dunedin container yard on Wednesday. […] Mr Swann (51) was released from prison last week to live at a Christchurch address with businessman Alasdair Cassels.
Read more
You usually do your time as a crim in prison and a new chance is allowed for the person to get on with their life. In Swann’s case, there is no remorse for his crimes, he’s out at the earliest opportunity, and there’s no sign of where the rest of the money is hidden.
I suspect he will be given a hard time by many and he will be a marked man. The sign above the freeway tells us what he is in for.
How to annoy Mike Swann:
1. Issue an invoice
2. Send it to his probation address by courier with “Signature required”
3. File a complaint.
What, one wonders, constitutes a breach of parole? Not much, if you’re an “underclass” criminal. If you don’t have a beanie or a death metal t-shirt in your wardrobe it may be different. I am not a lawyer. Someone who is, may be able to quote the rules so we can all understand.
Michael Swann has been proved to be a dishonest, low-life scum who has exhibited not one shred of remorse for his calculated and widespread fraud and theft along with his partner in crime, Kerry Harford. However, he had more than this willing partner. Many many others were beneficiaries of his opulent lifestyle, his parties up at his mansion at Ferntree Lodge, his trips on his ship – all paid for from the proceeds of ripping off the public health system.
So, who is the mystery person sent to pick up this container? Another of Santa’s little helpers? One thing is for sure, we will never learn the name of this equal bit of scum who clearly is assisting Swann’s fraud, and another thing is that Swann will continue to reap the benefit of his theft for years to come thanks to the stupidity of the entire Justice system that allowed him to escape with the bare minimum time behind bars. Swann deserves to rot in hell as does ANYONE that has assisted him – and that includes those within the Justice system who simply don’t understand what the word “justice” actually means.
Wonder if it was being collected by “a motor company”?
A Devereaux, or other Co. ?
Makes you wonder about this other reported stash of vehicles parked in a garage near the airport somewhere – nothing came of that apart from the Police not getting back to the woman who reported it.
Just where is the ex Mrs Swann these days?
Mind you, I see that Donkey Johnkey doesn’t find it strange that the Police “kept him in the loop” after his complaint to them after being recorded in the Banks teaparty fiasco. How many others have complained to the Police and not heard another thing? Fraud complaints for example?
In normal times you do the crime, and do the time, and then you get on with your life and rehabilitate yourself with the support of the community. In Swann’s case…… NO! He will not R.I.P.
Rolls-Royce found in container is Swann’s
Fraudster linked to rare Rolls, police say
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/270176/fraudster-linked-rare-rolls-police-say
****
### ODT Online Wed, 14 Aug 2013
Swann possible asset tip-offs received
Police have received several tip-offs concerning possible assets belonging to Michael Swann, as they continue to investigate the ownership of a luxury car stashed in a container.
Read more
● People can contact Dunedin police on (03) 471-4800 or via the anonymous Crimestoppers line, 0800-555-111.
### ODT Online Mon, 19 Aug 2013
$200k sought by liquidator
By Vaughan Elder
Members of the Otago Bowling Club are being held accountable for more than $200,000 from the sale of its grounds, which was split among members instead of being given to community interests. A six-month report by liquidator Trevor Laing and Associates found the $350,000 gained from the sale was distributed among the 14 remaining members of the club – going against its constitution, which stated it should have been given to community interests.
Read more
### ODT Online Mon, 2 Mar 2015
Two bankrupted after club funds not returned
By Vaughan Elder
Two members of a defunct Dunedin bowling club have been made bankrupt after failing to return monies wrongfully taken by them from the sale of the club’s Dunedin premises. Liquidator Trevor Laing has spent two years tracking down $350,000 in proceeds from the sale of the Otago Bowling Club, in Arthur St, which was split among members rather than given to community interests as per the club’s constitution. So far just over $210,000 had been recovered from members, but Mr Laing, who was about to finish liquidation proceedings, was not confident of retrieving much more of the remaining amount.
Read more
Swann again
“His parole decision included special release conditions, but none related to discovery of assets.
Kevin Dawkins, of the University of Otago’s faculty of law, said if discovery of assets was not part of Mr Swann’s release conditions, he could not be recalled to prison.”
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/270176/fraudster-linked-rare-rolls-police-say
In same article:
In an affidavit dated March 28, 2010, Mr Swann stated ”I can definitely say that there is nothing by way of hidden or missing property”.
Whether the “property” was in the form of a car or the money to buy the car and arrange for its shipping and storage, doesn’t it look as if “nothing missing” was a wee fraction at odds with the facts?
As always, Swann is far from the truth.
### ODT Online Thu, 29 Aug 2013
Editorial: Where is Swann’s remorse?
The people of Otago now have further reason to be both bitter about fraudster Michael Swann and disillusioned by his early release from prison. The Rolls-Royce discovered in a container in Dunedin and linked to Mr Swann, again mocks any supposed co-operation or remorse. […] What many in our community will now be hoping… is that police can pin the Rolls-Royce firmly to Mr Swann and that the earlier affidavit, and perhaps other statements, are sufficient for Mr Swann to face further convictions and, in that way, be returned to jail.
Read more
Recidivist. “recidivist” is a word.
Definition. Typically, requiring jail. Breaking rocks is preferable.
Yes the word “perjury” was conspicuously missing from that editorial, I’m not sure why, I think that such a charge may be appropriate and might have some effect on one’s probation.
Swann is scum – no doubt about that. But the same name can be applied to all those that helped him in his fraud. Isn’t it about time that those that did so were “outed”?
Russell,
How about the ‘hamster’ for starters.
Who “liberated” the Roller?
That is the question and when will police let the public know there’s a prosecution pending?
Heard a delicious story from a VERY reliable source: Swann was “taxed” by the Mongrel Mob to the tune of $25,000. He thought he’d be in that environment for quite a while but would you believe how the cookies crumbled, 6 weeks later he was transferred to a wing controlled by Black Power. My informant wasn’t sure of the $ figure………..
The ODT doesn’t say if Mr Logan is under suspicion.
—
### ODT Online Sat, 12 Oct 2013
‘It wasn’t anything to do with me’
By Hamish McNeilly
Michael Swann allegedly paid $160,000 for a Rolls Royce found stashed in a container, but following its discovery told detectives “it wasn’t anything to do with me”, court documents show. […] Just days after his release, police received a tip-off about an item stored in a container at Port Otago’s container yard in Strathallan St, Dunedin. The documents released this week show that on August 7, police visited the container with the permission of its owner, Kenneth Logan, who told them he believed furniture belonging to Mr Swann was stored in it.
Read more
### ODT Online Fri, 22 Nov 2013
Swann forfeits assets but not freedom
By Vaughan Elder
Convicted fraudster Michael Swann is likely to stay a free man, despite more than $250,000 of assets and cash being recovered from him yesterday.
Read more
### ODT Online Sat, 30 Nov 2013
Asset search ‘labour intensive’
By Hamish McNeilly
Police have identified more than 50 assets connected to convicted fraudster Michael Swann, with more outstanding assets likely. Last week, more than $250,000 in assets were recovered from Mr Swann and forfeited by the High Court, including a 1922 Rolls-Royce, $92,475.42 in trust accounts, and a dirt bike.
Read more + Slideshow [photos supplied by New Zealand Police]
I’m sure there are some people who could be taken in for questioning, could be named along with “no suggestion that they were guilty of any misdeed but had been asked politely if there was any information however minor they have that could help police to, etc etc.”
Following the conclusion of the DCC Finance open meeting last week, one gentleman started naming cars not accounted for in the police inventory to Cr Thomson. Perhaps the gentleman used to attend Swann parties or he’s networked to people actually trying to find the assets through local knowledge.
### radionz.co.nz Updated 15 minutes ago
RNZ News
MP wants police probe of health funds
Green MP Kevin Hague is demanding that police be called in to investigate possible fraud involving up to $15 million of health funds. Mr Hague raised the issue at a financial review hearing involving the Southern District Health Board at parliament on Wednesday. He told the health select committee that GP organisation Southlink Health is in a long-running dispute with South Island district health boards over who controls savings made for DHBs by the group. He demanded to know whether the Southern District Health Board had received legal advice that fraud had occurred. A representative for the DHB replied the board had been told fraud may have occurred but that further investigations would be needed to determine if that was the case. It said it would refer the matter to police if there was fraud, but was still pursuing other processes. Outside the committee, Mr Hague said that was not good enough.
RNZ Link
****
### ODT Online Wed, 19 Feb 2014
Call for investigation into ‘fraud’ allegation
By Matthew Backhouse – APNZ
Southern District Health Board (DDHB) was questioned in Parliament’s health select committee today about its long-running dispute with Dunedin-based GP organisation South Link Health. The dispute concerns whether $5.3 million of savings from contracts – a figure that could be as high as $15 million with interest since the 1990s – had to be returned.
Read more
Slowly slowly the wheels turn for determining fraud but, with persistence, those who have likely committed it do not have the pleasure of a good night’s sleep till it is all over. In a cell.
If only there were more fraud-busting authorities that saw it that way, and had both backbone and persistence!
You only have to cast your mind back to how swiftly the Dunedin Police acted in response to political accusations that the Dunedin Mongrel Mob were defrauding Whanau Ora of $20k to see that two standards of law and order and justice are alive and well in the least corrupt country in the world -NZ.
So much easier to pursue dumb, rough looking crims than white collar ones whom you might even be friends with. Not the done thing. Especially in the Corruption Capital of NZ. Dunedin.
What’s also sick is the fact that now the Police and other Govt regulators only seem to fire up when a politician becomes involved. If the rest of us reported the same concerns we’d be fobbed off with rhetoric such as – higher priority crimes, staff on leave or there is insufficient evidence even though we haven’t looked.
Very true, Martin. Thank goodness for parliamentary privilege when it is used wisely and ethically. Shortcuts a lot of game playing.
So interesting to watch question time and the response of the Ministers to what is clearly control of the supermarket price regime. Craig Foss is a wimp and was exposed as an apologist for big Aussie business. Mind you, to see Banks and Dunne sitting beside each other looking as though they should have been behind bars was illuminating. But I stress, it is like a circus of fools. Not a lot different to what sits round Council tables up and down the country. And these twerps are nominally in control?????
Who was the Crown Monitor on SDHB at the time?
Did that person ever own/operate/direct a medical supplies business?
I don’t know. Not our Stuey?
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/266674/new-crown-monitor-health-board
█ http://www.odt.co.nz/regions/otago/145776/value-crown-monitor-queried
Aside:
Records show Mr McLauchlan, in his time with both boards, has attended about half of the board meetings, not always for the full meeting, and nine of the 15 audit, finance and risk meetings where detailed discussion of the board’s finances occurs.
Oh dear.
Not all of his reports were in written form; many were “face to face”. [ad hoc]
Od.
### ODT Online Thu, 20 Feb 2014
Health fraud suspicion
By Eileen Goodwin
The Southern District Health Board was told in 2010 its multimillion-dollar dispute with South Link Health (SLH) might be fraud, but the dispute was not referred to police, board chairman Joe Butterfield has revealed.
Read more
Only 2010? We wouldn’t want the Auditor-General to rush into hasty action, would we?
Look before you leap – telescope to blind eye as per usual practice.
http://www.interest.co.nz/news/56209/finance-companies-collapsed-because-regulators-courts-lawyers-and-accountants-were-unread
“Finance companies collapsed because regulators, courts, lawyers and accountants were ‘unready, unwilling and unable’ to do their jobs with integrity QC says…”
QC Tony Molloy is a smart cookie. While his headline introductory quote relates to the collapse of finance companies, his quote could describe what could be described as a widespread disease within NZ regulatory bodies and other professionals high up the food chain.
See new post: National-led government rejects state sector reform
Fraud possibility not disclosed http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/292455/fraud-possibility-not-disclosed
This from a media statement by Kevin Hague:
”The Auditor-general should investigate this whole issue thoroughly to identify when the minister was informed that there was potential fraud, and what the minister’s role in this whole mess has been. While the minister knew that there was a dispute for many years, how could he never know that there was potential fraud while the DHB, and the [Ministry of Health] audit and compliance unit, knew all about it?”
—
Stuart McLauchlan and Tony Ryall appear complicit.
Forensic accountant news shock http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/292450/forensic-accountant-news-shock
South Link Health (SLH) says it found out through reading the Otago Daily Times that the Southern District Health Board had called in a forensic accountant over what the Dunedin-based independent practitioner association believed until this week was a commercial dispute. SLH executive director Dr Murray Tilyard said yesterday commercial negotiations were no longer appropriate.
### ODT Online Sat, 4 Oct 2014
SDHB-South Link talks at standstill
By Elspeth McLean
Negotiations between the Southern District Health Board and South Link Health over their long-standing multimillion-dollar dispute have come to a standstill. A month ago, when the board announced it had referred the dispute to the Serious Fraud Office, a spokesman said it was “still hoping to negotiate a settlement with South Link Health as a separate issue to any potential fraud”. This week, in response to questions, a spokesman said the board had been “advised by South Link Health that they have suspended negotiations”.
Read more
—
Related Comments:
█ “Chasing down names” – https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/stadium-a-conversation/#comment-46131
█ “Connect the dots”, tidy diagram – https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/stadium-fubar-cringe/#comment-49610
Was it fraud ???
—
### ODT Online Thu, 25 Jun 2015
South Link Health rapt $15m dispute over
By Eileen Goodwin
The multimillion-dollar row between the Southern District Health Board and South Link Health is over, after the Serious Fraud Office decided to take no further action. The health board referred the row to the authority last September following advice from Auckland forensic investigation firm Beattie Varley Ltd.
Read more
### ODT Online Wed, 16 Sep 2015
Push for talks in multimillion-dollar row
By Elspeth McLean
When the Serious Fraud Office decided in winter not to pursue a complaint about the spending of millions of dollars by South Health Link, some thought that was the end of the matter. But the Southern District Health Board says it is still not resolved. The Southern District Health Board has not given up hope of negotiating a settlement in its long-running multimillion-dollar dispute with South Link Health.
Read more
Sat, 9 Apr 2016
ODT: Using criminal process doomed deal with DHB
The Southern District Health Board called it quits on its long-running multimillion-dollar dispute with South Link Health this month, but many details about the stoush have been kept under wraps. Funds could have been injected into health services in the Wakatipu Basin if a settlement idea for the multimillion-dollar row between South Link Health and the Southern District Health Board had come off. This is revealed in an internal file note released under the Official Information Act by the Ministry of Health, on the direction of Ombudsman Prof Ron Paterson. He had been investigating complaints about refusals to release information on the dispute by both the ministry and the Southern District Health Board, some dating back to May 2013.
Here’s something all of us should take as a reminder to record the numbers of bank notes that pass through our hands:
“…. money used to set up the trust was not the savings in question.
It came from other income and “was a coincidence”.”
WE never know when coincidence will jump out and bite us on the bum. Eh!
Agree. Even if the Statute of Limitations has CONSIDERABLE bearing.
Retain numbers (cash and cheques), scans or photocopies ($$$), and other evidential proof.
Liking THIS, one thinks of CST records and their traffic of recent times….
█ Official Information Act and Public Records Act issues.
—
Sat, 9 Apr 2016
ODT: Archives NZ looking at board’s record-keeping
Concerns about the Ministry of Health and Southern District Health Board’s ability to keep track of some documents related to a multimillion-dollar dispute have been raised with Chief Archivist Marilyn Little. During correspondence about requests for official information on the dispute between South Link Health and the Southern District Health Board, confusion emerged around documents held in an earthquake-damaged building in Christchurch by the ministry’s audit and compliance unit.
{Comment relocated here from another thread. Relevance. -Eds}
—
John Evans
Submitted on: Dec 28, 2014 @ 9:35 a.m.
Elizabeth, a regular potpourri of fraud
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/265527/woman-admits-health-fees-fraud
Regards
Je
### ODT Online Sat, 4 Apr 2015
Hanssen banned from running a company
By Hamish McNeilly
A former Dunedin bar owner who left a trail of creditors throughout the South Island has been banned from operating a company for eight years.
Ben Hanssen had interests in Dunedin bars Metro, Monkey Bar, Diamond Lounge/Rumours and the Clarendon Hotel.
Read more
I see Alex Swney, the Auckland high flier who was involved in local body affairs and who stood for the Auckland Mayoralty, is up for fraud to the tune of $5m plus. He was going to be sentenced today, but the judge was ill.
Great to see that at least up there they are not doing the ‘Let’s move on, lessons learnt’ option so favoured down here. Whoever ‘moved that forward’ had balls and integrity. Hear that DCC?
This only helps restore people’s faith in the system and it tells us the crooks can be nabbed and made (cover your ears, Dave) accountable.
—
{Link added. -Eds}
Balls and integrity, Peter? This far south? “Scuse me while I go and harvest my macadamias.
Well, it does happen. The fraud was apparently elaborate, but they got him in the end. I thought a minimum time in the slammer, for this sentence of 5 plus years, would be appropriate. Or, better still, given the maximum sentence, if he can’t return more more than 13% of his takings. He could be out in two years…. or less?
I submitted this to odt online but it hasn’t shown up, perhaps “unsuitable”.
Feeling underpaid? Don’t strike – steal! Even when caught you’re ahead! Make sure they can’t lay their hands on more than a small fraction of what you took, then do an academic or trade course while your accommodation is paid for in a facility kindly provided by the rest of us.
Career advice from a high-flier, 2nd hand advice though. The careers advisor neglected to mention it to me, I wonder if I can sue for professional negligence?
Hype O’Thermia, I can’t think why the ODT Online editor would bin your comment.
Maybe they didn’t, maybe it was just a longer delay than usual… or maybe they thought it might be taken as serious advice by some readers. In view of some of the contributions on the site I’d have to agree, they’d have a point.