October 4, 2021 11:28am by David Farrar

Billy TK name suppression lapses

Billy Te Kahika Jr can now be revealed as the latest man charged with filing false candidate donations and obtaining a total of $15,000 by deception.
The former co-leader of the Advance New Zealand party was charged in September. On Monday his lawyer, Paul Borich QC, confirmed name suppression could now lapse for Te Kahika and not guilty pleas have been entered.
Te Kahika is charged with causing a loss valued at $10,000 to another person, by deception and without claim of right, between July and August 2020.
He is further charged with obtaining ownership of a pecuniary advantage – namely $5000 – by deception and without claim of right in August 2020.

As I understand it, the SFO are basically alleging he pocketed donations intended for one of his political parties. The details will come out in trial, and of course accusation is not guilt.

Will be an interesting trial, when it proceeds.