Bridgecorp's Roest in fight over $174K legal aid bill

Former Bridgecorp director Robert Roest faces being struck off the professional body for chartered accountants. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Legal Services Commissioner wants disgraced Bridgecorp director Rob Roest to repay $174,000 of legal aid.

The Commissioner is today appealing a decision from the legal aid tribunal that said bankruptcy debts should be taken into account when assessing someone's financial position.

If that decision is upheld, then the failed finance company director would effectively repay none of his legal aid that funded his failed defence of misleading investors.

The commissioner's position is that Roest should be required to repay $174,000 of legal aid, lawyer Lisa Hansen told Justice Raynor Asher in the High Court at Auckland today.

However, the court heard that Roest's position is the prescribed amount in the calculations that effect repayments should be zero because bankruptcy debts need to deducted.

That would mean he would effectively repay no legal aid back.

Roest was an undischarged bankrupt at the time he applied for legal aid in 2011.

He was jailed for more than six years following a four month trial and has yet to be released on parole.

Bridgecorp collapsed in 2007 owing investors $459 million. It was one of the biggest finance company failures to hit New Zealand during the period.