Banned boss accused of running firms

A man who ran hair and beauty salons where a string of women suffered injuries is defending charges for managing other companies while banned from doing so.

Yosef Aziz Chtouki, who previously went by the name Joseph Brooks, is facing charges for managing companies while prohibited, the Auckland High Court heard yesterday.

That case, being prosecuted in the Auckland District Court, is due to go to trial in February.

Chtouki was banned from acting as a director of companies for four years in November 2012.

The charges relate to Marx Beauty Management and Beauty Management New Lynn, both of which were struck off from the Companies Register in 2013.

However, the Registrar of Companies yesterday applied in the Auckland High Court for both these firms to be restored to register.

This would to enable the criminal charges against Chtouki to be properly considered, said Crown lawyer Kirstin Wakelin.

Wakelin told Associate Judge Tony Christiansen that there was clear evidence the two companies were carrying on business at the time they were struck off.

Even if the judge wasn’t satisfied this was the case, Wakelin said the companies should be restored to the register so that the criminal prosecution can continue.

If the companies were not restored, Wakelin said it was possible that charges relating to one of the firms may need to be withdrawn.

But Chtouki’s lawyer, Peter Davey, said this wasn’t a case where the registrar needed to have the companies restored to pursue charges.

As well as this, the evidence relied on by the registrar to say the companies were carrying out business when they were struck off didn’t meet the required test, Davey said.

Given that Chtouki was still prohibited from directing a company until next year, Davey said if the firms were restored his client could be breaking the law.

Associate Judge Christiansen reserved his decision but indicated it could be released by the end of the week.

Chtouki was not in court yesterday.

The Herald reported in 2011 his management company was responsible for Hair Co and Beauty Co’s staff in West Auckland.

Numerous customers of those New Lynn salons approached the Herald to report injuries, including two women whose hair fell out after chemical straightening.