Rod Petricevic might be on the move. Photo / Greg Bowker
Rod Petricevic might be on the move. Photo / Greg Bowker
Bridgecorp director is the last finance company boss still in prison, but the Parole Board could release him next week - if he’s got things in perspective.
Third time lucky?
It's a nervous week for jailed Bridgecorp director Rodney Petricevic, who could be granted parole in a matter of days.
Petricevic was sentenced in 2012 to six years 10 months , chiefly for misleading investors, and is the last failed finance company boss still in prison.
The former Remuera resident is to come back before the Parole Board this month after two previous attempts to get out.
He may appear late next week, said a Parole Board official who could not be any more specific and highlighted the possibility of a delay.
Petricevic would be forgiven for feeling a little indignant as the last man standing - finance industry colleagues sentenced to more jail time have already got out.
But he would be wise to keep that bottled up when he appears before the board, which in February said Petricevic still needed help in seeing his offending in its "proper perspective".
Aside from any parole conditions that could be imposed, Petricevic remains banned from directing or managing a company until April 2017.
Picture perfect
Real estate identity Mike Pero has weighed into the acrimonious bust-up between franchisees and the mortgage brokerage business that still bears his name.
Although he is no longer a director or shareholder of Mike Pero Mortgages, it is understood the Christchurch businessman was asked to help try work through differences between the franchisees and the company, owned by Australia's Liberty Financial.
Mike Pero isn't involved in the mortgage business that bears his name, but he's keeping abreast of developments in it, even if he isn't saying much. Illustration / Rod Emmerson
It was revealed this week that seven former Mike Pero Mortgages' franchisees want a High Court judge to rule that two-year restraint-of-trade terms can't be enforced against them.
"I have empathy with the mortgage advisers and their situation," said Pero who was in Fiji for a conference when Business Insider called on Thursday. He would not comment further.
Pero remains at the helm of Mike Pero Real Estate, which is apparently notching up strong profits.
Business Insider was surprised he would comment at all, because of his own legal dispute with Mike Pero Mortgages.
It was even more surprising that Pero had no problem with his photo accompanying coverage of the High Court dispute, which has nothing to do with him.
In fact, the 55-year-old even went to the trouble of providing a more up-to-date image.
Behind bars
One of New Zealand's most notorious conmen is back behind bars, despite a judge intending for his immediate release if he admitted his latest fraud.
Few will feel sorry for serial fraudster Michael Helsby-Knight, although when challenging his ongoing detention he found a sympathetic ear in Justice Geoffrey Venning, who expressed some pity for the man's predicament.
Helsby-Knight has a 30-year-long rap sheet and holds the dubious honour of being the first person to be permanently banned from ever doing business in the Australian state of New South Wales.
Michael Helsby-Knight isn't going anywhere. Photo / Michael Craig
After two and a half years in custody awaiting trial on his latest set of charges, Helsby-Knight pleaded guilty in May.
This was after Manukau District Court Judge Andree Wiltens indicated the fraudster would be released straight away because of the time he had already served in prison.
But the judge overlooked the fact that because the sentence he imposed was more than two years' jail, Helsby-Knight could be released during its term only by the Parole Board.
The 57-year-old was taken to Mt Eden Remand Centre for processing after his sentencing and prison authorities declined to release him.
Although Helsby-Knight then failed to challenge his detention before Justice Venning, he was successful in shaving three months off his three-year four-month jail sentence in the Court of Appeal.
Guess who, don't sue
One of New Zealand's big commercial law firms inadvertently breached suppression orders in a public newsletter recently emailed out to those on its database.
The breach of the non-publication orders seemed to be discovered only when Business Insider called to ask about the case under discussion. The item, which commented on an organisation that frequents the headlines, was then quickly removed from the firm's website.
Business Insider, not stupid enough to cross an entire law firm, has decided not to name it. It did not respond to questions about the incident this week.
Planes for trains
High-flying union leader Strachan Crang is moving to the other side of the bargaining table and swapping planes for trains.
The director of aviation organising for the Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union is taking a job with KiwiRail after smoking the peace pipe with the old adversary, Air New Zealand.
Strachan Crang is on the move. Photo / Jason Oxenham
But his new employer faces a rough ride from its unions if it has to cut coal trains to the West Coast.
Crang, in his mid-30s is feisty but pragmatic and was seen as a bright light in the union. He's now taking a senior leadership role in KiwiRail's High Performance Engagement project.
He's led the union in negotiations with Air New Zealand using HPE philosophy - a form of industrial relationship based on genuine consultation. Crang is not talking about his new role but it seems there's no hard feelings from his former union colleagues.
Crang is a former ferry crewman who cut his teeth in organised labour as a delegate while working for Aviation Security before being spotted as good talent among Wellington union leaders.
