Evidence may be called at false quake claims sentencing
More reports are being prepared ahead of the delayed sentencing for a property developer who admits making fraudulent quake claims, and evidence may have to be heard at her sentencing next year.
The 42-year-old woman has name suppression but that issue will be argued at the sentencing session.
She has admitted two representative charges of forging various documents with intent to obtain a financial advantage, and knowingly using the forged documents as if they were genuine.
Her guilty pleas were entered just as her Christchurch District Court jury trial was due to begin.
Her claims amounted to several thousand dollars, but much of it was not paid out after an EQC Claims Review Team investigation.
She was due for sentencing by Judge Stephen O’Driscoll today but when the case was called he said he had already agreed to a remand for further reports to be prepared.
January 28 has been set as a nominal date, but by then the reports should be available and Crown prosecutor Anselm Williams and defence counsel Pip Hall QC will have filed a joint memorandum on whether the report writers will be needed at court to give evidence at the sentencing.
The sentencing is likely to be set for early March.
Category: Focus
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