prosecution | Case number:

Person accused of conspiring to deceive Afghan evacuee

The Serious Fraud Office has charged a person with obtaining by deception, alleging that he has taken advantage of an Afghan evacuee looking to flee the Taliban, by seeking money for evacuation services that were provided for free by the New Zealand Government.

Case Timeline

• Jun 2023

  Both defendants are arrested in Hamilton and appear in Hamilton District Court. They are released on bail and next scheduled to appear on 13 July.

• Jul 2023

  Defendants appear in the Hamilton District Court and enter not guilty pleas on all charges.

• Dec 2024

  Following Court of Appeal decision that impacted admissibility of evidence, all but one charge withdrawn against one defendant, who now faces one charge of obtaining by deception. All charges against the second defendant withdrawn.

• Nov 2025

  Jury trial scheduled for 3 November 2025.