The Auckland Pride Centre fraud fiasco could drag on till the end of this year, with alleged fraudster Martin van der Riet's trial date set for November, although there is a chance that van der Riet could face trial sooner, with a standby date pencilled in for May. Van der Riet, a former Pride Centre employee, was arrested in February last year on eighteen separate charges involving nearly $40,000 worth of missing funds. A depositions hearing in November determined that there was enough evidence for him to face trial. Detective Constable Richard Morgan of the Auckland Commercial Fraud Squad says that, while awaiting trial, van der Reit is unable to leave the country or be in paid employment. "He hasn't got a work permit, so he's not allowed to work," he told GayNZ.com. The charges van der Riet faces include using a document for pecuniary gain, and one charge of perverting the course of justice. Each charge carries a maximum seven-year sentence.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 1st March 2006 - 12:00pm