Fraud accused Simon Turnbull arrested on return to New Zealand

Simon Lawrence Wood Turnbull, 43, appeared at Auckland District Court today having been arrested at Auckland International Airport on 38 charges. Photo / Nick Reed

A man accused of a multi-million-dollar fraud has finally appeared in court, nearly a decade after his alleged offending.

Simon Lawrence Wood Turnbull, 43, appeared at Auckland District Court today having been arrested at Auckland International Airport on 38 charges.

They include nine counts of dishonestly taking or using document, 19 of obtaining by deception or causing loss by deception, and 10 counts of using forged documents.

Turnbull was allegedly involved in a mortgage fraud where false loan applications were submitted to a fund management company to purchase 19 properties in and around the Auckland region, between September 2006 and August 2007.

In February 2014, Malcolm Mayer was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for his role in the alleged scam.

An arrest warrant was issued for Turnbull when he failed to appear at his first court date in November 2014.

Today's arrest was carried out on his arrival into New Zealand after a period of living overseas, the SFO said.

Turnbull did not enter a plea and will next appear at the Auckland District Court in August.