Dunedin absent tax evader convicted

Raelene Marie Kelly has been found guilty on all 46 charges of tax evasion involving more than $180,000. Photo / File

A former Dunedin lawyer who did not turn up yesterday for the start of her five-day trial has been found guilty on all 46 charges of tax evasion involving more than $180,000.

Despite Raelene Marie Kelly, 55, emailing an explanation, claiming a "moderate to severe anxiety disorder", Judge Paul Kellar noted there was no supporting medical evidence and went ahead with the trial.

Five days had been set aside, but the trial was over by mid-afternoon.

Kelly was formally called to the stand, but did not appear, nor was there any legal counsel representing her in court or evidence submitted on her behalf.

In March, when the charges were laid in the Dunedin District Court, Kelly had denied the counts of evading paying GST or PAYE.

Judge Kellar said the charges were "relatively serious", noting the maximum penalty for each was up to five years' jail and/or a fine of up to $50,000, and Kelly was therefore "required to be present".

Given her absence, which meant no time had to be set aside for defence argument, Judge Kellar sped up proceedings and called witnesses early.

Stacks of invoices were treated as "representative" instead of having each one read out by witnesses.

The charges stem from when Kelly was sole director and shareholder of legal services company Kelly Chambers Ltd in Dunedin.

The company was incorporated in November 2010 and placed in liquidation by Inland Revenue in August last year over "outstanding tax obligations".