Former MP and wife face jail

Trevor and Glenda Rogers Photo / Herald on Sunday

A former National Party MP faces another month in jail for withholding the designs of his company's unmanned military stealth helicopter.

Trevor Vicemar Rogers' company TGR Helicorp Ltd went into receivership in February 2008, after which Rogers told the receivers all its tangible assets had been sold or destroyed.

But the receivers were sceptical and took him to court in December 2008, resulting in a search for remaining assets.

Nothing was voluntarily disclosed by Rogers, 67, or fellow director and wife Glenda, but some important assets were found, Justice Peter Woodhouse said in his December judgment.

However, other assets were not found, including the technical drawings, specifications and documents relating to the prototype of the unmanned combat aerial vehicle, called the Snark.

The documents have not been produced, and today in the High Court at Auckland Rogers and his wife were told they would be jailed for a month from Monday.

The $5 million, 8m-long Snark helicopter was said to be the world's first diesel helicopter. It was satellite-controlled with full stealth capabilities and automatic weapons system, including rocket launchers.

Rogers was a National MP for the Otara and Howick electorates from 1990-1996 and then left to join the Conservative Party.

- NZPA