Serious Fraud Office Press Release
Auckland, June 8, 2016
Simon Lawrence Wood Turnbull (43) appeared at the Auckland District Court today having been arrested at Auckland International Airport on 38 Crimes Act charges.
The charges include: nine counts of ‘Dishonestly taking or using document’, 19 counts of ‘Obtaining by deception or causing loss by deception’, and 10 counts of ‘Using forged documents’.
Mr Turnbull was allegedly involved in a mortgage fraud where false loan applications were submitted to a fund management company to purchase 19 properties in and around the Auckland region, between September 2006 and August 2007. In February 2014, Malcolm Mayer was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for his role in the fraud.
An arrest warrant was issued for Mr Turnbull when he failed to appear at his first court date in November 2014. Today’s arrest was carried out on his arrival into New Zealand after a period of living overseas.
Mr Turnbull did not enter a plea and will next appear at the Auckland District Court on 4 August 2016.
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