Thu 15 Nov 2007 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
3.45PM: The jury in the Auckland Pride Centre fraud trial has found Martin van der Reit guilty of fraud and perverting the course of justice. After just over an hour of deliberation following three and a half days of hearing complex evidence, the jury has found van der Reit guilty on sixteen of the seventeen charges of fraud and guilty of using a document to pervert the course of justice. Van der Reit hung his head as the verdict was read out. Afterwards he hugged his partner, who was visabily upset. Van der Reit was employed by the centre in late 2003 and early 2004 as a part time coordinator. In early 2004 the Centre discovered it was close to financial collapse and accused van der Reit of using around $35,000 of Centre funds to shore up his Gay Guide publishing project and for personal expenses. At the time, and in court, van der Reit claimed he was owed the missing money by way of salary over and above his employment agreement. Judge Bouchier said the frauds committed were a "serious matter" but noted that van der Reit has no prior police record. She would not rule out a custodial sentence. She called for pre-sentencing and reparation reports and victim impact statements, and has set sentencing down for 20 December. Van der Reit, an immigrant from South Africa who was seeking residency in New Zealand, has been released on bail but his passport has been retained by the court. 5.30PM: Edward Bennett, who has shouldered most of the court appearances giving evidence on behalf of the Pride Centre, and whose integrity was frequently questioned by the defence, was not in court to hear the final verdict. Reached afterwards, he declined to comment on the case or the verdict, saying only that a statement would be released "in a few days time."
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 15th November 2007 - 3:58pm