Fraud accused tells of signing cat’s name
Christchurch landlord Sally Mengtung Ye has admitted signing off an invoice as paid with the word “Andy” – the name of her cat.
She told day six of her Christchurch District Court trial on EQC fraud charges: “When a person signs something, that person could use a different name or a proper name. It doesn’t really matter.”
She had been asked why she had signed off an invoice, saying it was paid, using the name Andy. “Andy is my cat,” she said.
Crown prosecutor Marcus Zintl asked her: “Are you trying to tell us you think it’s okay to sign invoices in a false name?”
Ye replied: “I don’t think that’s a false name. It is just a different name that I use.”
Pressed further, Ye told the court, “Andy is my cat’s name, but it’s another nickname for me.”
Ye has denied the Crown allegation that she “made up” four tradesmen who she said had carried out earthquake repairs on properties she owned or was managing as rental accommodation.
The 50-year-old acknowledged to Crown prosecutor Marcus Zintl that she had paid for all 34 invoices in cash. She said that was at the request of the tradesmen, and she had paid them because they had carried out the work.
Mr Zintl put it to her that none of the five “entities” – companies or trademen doing the repairs – had ever existed. She replied, through a Cantonese interpreter: “I don’t think so.”
Under cross-examination, Ye denied making any false invoices. She said she understood that would be unlawful. She acknowledged that she had had trouble contacting tradesmen she had used. She had explained to the police that in one case they had returned to Japan on family business. She said her interview with the police – recorded on a DVD – had not been fair.
Ye denies 34 charges of dishonestly using documents to make claims to EQC for repairs to her own property, and properties belonging to her boyfriend and mother. The Crown said EQC had paid out $12,895 for some of the invoices, and $14,895 remained unpaid.
Ye also denies one charge of wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice by sending false documents to the court.
Evidence in the trial was completed, and closing addresses will be heard on Friday afternoon.
Category: News
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