Venkat Raman
Three persons running a chain of Indian restaurants will be at the Auckland District Court today (April 15) to defend charges relating to exploitation of migrant workers.
They were arrested in their homes on Friday, April 10 and were bailed on conditions.
Indian Newslink cannot name the accused since they have name suppression.
The charges resulted from an extensive investigation undertake over several months by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
“One of the defendants faces a total of 14 charges, including exploitation and conspiracy charges relating to three migrant workers, aiding and abetting a person to remain unlawfully in New Zealand and supplying false and misleading information to an immigration officer,” an INZ press release said.
It said that another defendant faces five charges, including exploitation charges relating to two workers, aiding, and abetting two workers to either breach their visa conditions, or remain in New Zealand unlawfully.
“The third defendant faces six charges relating to one worker, including forgery and supplying false and misleading information to an immigration officer. Investigations are on-going and further parties may be charged,” INZ said.
INZ is a part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which encourages anyone concerned over their employment conditions to call 0800-209020.
Additional Reading Viewlink and Businesslink in this issue
Accountant goes to jail
Former Auckland accountant Paul James Lawrence was sentenced on April 6, 2015 to two years and two months imprisonment on proved charges of stealing thousands of dollars in bogus tax credits.
The man, who now lives in Rotorua, claimed $278,125 in fake charitable donation tax credits on behalf of 33 unwitting clients at an Auckland accountancy firm, and diverted the money into his own bank accounts.
Inland Revenue Group Manager (Investigations and Advice), Patrick Goggin said that the offending was a total breach of the relationship between a tax accountant and clients.
“Lawrence held a position of significant responsibility. He totally abused the faith of clients by stealing their identities and making false donation claims in their names. He then pocketed the proceeds of these claims, and spent the stolen money on a lavish lifestyle of high fashion and luxury overseas travel,” Mr Goggin said.
His frauds were exposed after one of his clients questioned a letter from Inland Revenue detailing a tax credit claim for a charitable donation they had never made.
The accountancy firm then referred the matter to Police.
