Ex-FMA analyst in custody, denied bail

Police have alleged Kiro forged an academic record from Australian universities and used a false curriculum vitae to obtain employment at the FMA. Photo / Facebook

A former Financial Markets Authority analyst who allegedly forged his academic record and an employment contract with Fonterra is being kept in custody, having been denied bail this morning.

A total of 22 charges have been laid against Benjamin Anthony Kiro, who spent the last two nights in custody and was denied bail by Judge David Collins in a reserved decision at the Auckland District Court this morning.

He is due to reappear before a judge on December 21.

Police have alleged Kiro forged an academic record from Australian universities and used a false curriculum vitae to obtain employment at the FMA, which regulates New Zealand's capital markets. He has not worked at the regulator for several months.

Kiro is also alleged to have convinced women he met on online dating sites such as Tinder, or businessmen introduced to him by associates, to invest in companies soon to list on the stock exchange.

Police alleged the funds given to him, ranging from $2000 to $120,000 from each of the six complainants, were never invested.

Kiro, according to court documents, also allegedly used a forged Fonterra employment contract to obtain a tenancy for an apartment on Gore St, in Auckland's central business district.

It is understood that Kiro lived in the apartment for a short time last year.

Kiro, according to the documents, also allegedly falsified an offer of employment from AMP Capital as head of investment operations and a contract with AMP Capital in his own name with a $146,000 salary.

As well as this, he is now alleged to have falsified a letter of employment for BT Financial Group.

The week after the first set of charges was laid against Kiro, the Tenancy Tribunal terminated his lease on a Parnell apartment.

The tribunal adjudicator said rent was at least 21 days in arrears and $1100 damage was done to the garage wall and a door during Kiro's tenancy.

It ordered that an $1800 bond be paid to landlord Alistair Tolmie and that the former tenant pay a further $2750 in rent still owing.