Defendant arrested at border in SFO’s complex mortgage and investment fraud case

A defendant who is alleged by the Serious Fraud Office to have been involved in an investment fraud scheme has today been arrested after returning to New Zealand.

Serene Peters faces one charge of obtaining by deception related to a $1.8 million investment fraud. She has been overseas since September 2023 and was arrested at the border on her return to Auckland today.

Mrs Peters appeared in Manukau District Court this afternoon and was remanded on bail without plea until her next appearance on 24 August 2026.

Mrs Peters is one of five defendants that have been charged by the SFO in relation to this case. Two of Mrs Peters’ sons, Christopher Peters and Francis Peters, and associate Gur Raj Bhachu have previously pleaded guilty to their part in the wider scheme, which involved fraudulently obtaining credit and properties. Mrs Peters’ son Gerard Peters has also been charged.

 

Background:

  • Christopher Peters pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court in May to four charges of obtaining by deception related to a $4.47 million mortgage fraud scheme (three of the four charges were representative charges), and one charge of obtaining by deception related to a $1.8 million investment fraud. He is due to appear for sentencing on 30 October 2026.
  • Gur Raj Singh Bhachu pleaded guilty in September 2025 to 12 charges relating to four properties involved in the alleged mortgage fraud. He was sentenced in January to nine months’ home detention.
  • Francis John Peters pleaded guilty in April 2024 to three charges of obtaining credit by deception and one charge of obtaining property by deception. He was sentenced to nine months and two weeks’ home detention.

 

More information

For further details about the case see our previous releases:

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