Police chasing ex-principal for $60,000 in assets
Elliott must now prove he did not benefit from any criminal activity, Belinda Feek reports.
A former high school principal convicted of fraud is being chased for $60,000 in assets.
Police yesterday confirmed they had filed an application in court to recover about $60,000 in misappropriated funds from former Hamilton principal Martin Elliott.
The onus is now on Elliott to prove he did not misuse any moneys.
Elliott was convicted in February of two charges of using a document for pecuniary advantage and sentenced to 40 hours’ community service. No reparation was sought. However, he was subsequently stripped of his justice of the peace title and is banned from being a director of a company until 2017.
Elliott initially faced more than 60 charges but that was whittled down to 30 before an apparently bungled prosecution left him pleading guilty to two.
Yesterday, Detective Superintendent Peter Devoy said that as a result of a further investigation a restraint and forfeiture was being sought of assets belonging to Elliot so that the Crown could recover $60,000 in misappropriated funds.
‘‘Public servants who abuse the privilege of the management of public moneys can expect action to be taken to recover those funds,’’ he said.
‘‘Although the criminal case is over, the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 ensures that persons involved in crime do not profit from those activities and allows for civil action to be taken through restraining property and/or other assets.’’
It was now up to Elliott to prove to the court that he has not benefited from any criminal acts.
Police would not elaborate on how they came up with a $60,000 figure. However, if their action is successful, Elliott will have to stump up with $60,000 cash or assets to that value. Elliott declined to comment when contacted by the Times last night.
‘‘I’m not interested in speaking, I will deal with it,’’ he said.
But the Times understands the action will put more financial pressure on him.
Now that he no longer qualifies for paid legal assistance by the Post Primary Teachers’ Association – because he is no longer a registered teacher – he will have to foot the bill himself.
That news brought a smile to the face of whistleblower Jim Brunton who has been left thousands of dollars out of pocket after being convicted of several charges last year.
‘‘It’s the end of a long journey and at least now he can’t get his legal fees paid for by the PPTA . . . they stood beside him after pleading guilty, that’s pretty bizarre.’’