Business leader to fight serious fraud charges
A business leader accused of obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars through deception from an iwi trust says he will fight the Serious Fraud Office charges.
Roger Haare Charles Pikia, who appeared in the Auckland District Court before Judge Pippa Sinclair, is alleged to have obtained property worth $364,500 from Te Arawa River Iwi Trust using timesheets that falsely represented his work in settlement negotiations.
Another charge alleges that, in May 2016, he wilfully tried to obstruct or defeat the course of justice by altering minutes of a Tarit Holdings Limited board meeting which occurred on January 22, 2016.
He faces three other charges. Judge Sinclair remanded him on bail to appear again in late February, when he is expected to enter pleas in court.
Pikia said outside court that he was disappointed charges had been laid but felt he will finally have a chance to address the accusations.
“I strenuously deny these allegations and unequivocally state that we will be vigorously defending the charges,” Pikia said.
“The restrictions imposed during the SFO investigation have made it impossible to speak openly and frankly about the accusations.
“This is not normal practice within an iwi setting . . .” Pikia said he had been advised that it was not likely that any trial to determine these charges would occur until 2022.
“In the meantime I will be working with my lawyers to ensure that they are vigorously defended.”