The Serious Fraud Office's theory about Ngatata Love's alleged fraud is wrong and payments made by developers through a company owned by his partner had no financial effect on a trust he chaired, the High Court in Wellington heard today.
Love, who can be named for the first time after a three-year name suppression order was lifted, is charged with obtaining a secret commission and obtaining significant sums by deception.
The Crown says he signed an agreement in late 2006 with Auckland property developer Redwood Group to ensure it could lease land owned by the Wellington Tenths Trust, which Love chaired, and he received service fees through Pipitea Street Development Limited (PSDL), a company owned by his partner Lorraine Skiffington, without the trust's knowledge.
The Crown says Redwood paid Love and Skiffington $1.5 million, which they used to repay a house loan. Skiffington was also charged but has been granted a permanent stay due to her ill health, while Ngatata Love's son Matene Love had already pleaded guilty to accepting a secret commission.
In day two of the 11-day trial, Love's counsel, Colin Carruthers QC, cross-examined SFO investigator Shane Mannix who worked on the investigation.