October 07, 2008

Suppression ends for businessman on fraud charges

By David Clarkson

Australian resident Ross Alexander Davidson can be named today as the businessman facing fraud charges totalling $585,447 brought by the Serious Fraud Office.

When he appeared in the Christchurch District Court on September 22 he was granted interim name suppression which was to lapse yesterday unless an application was received for it to be continued.

No application was received and court staff today confirmed that the suppression order had lapsed.

Davidson faces 27 charges. The 55-year-old is said to be New Zealand-born, but his address on all the charges is given simply as ?Australia?.

The charges refer to a firm called One Call Flooring and allege that invoices were used dishonestly to obtain payments ranging from $7584 to $76,752. Because of the suppression on Davidson?s name, the company?s name has also effectively been suppressed until today.

The firms alleged to have been defrauded are trusts, rental companies, building firms, home supply and renovation firms, an internet services company, a joinery firm, an organic food company, and a chemicals firm. All appear to be in Christchurch.

Davidson has been remanded on bail to a pre-depositions conference on December 11.