Two sets of invoices, SFO tells court

Invoices, purchase orders and bank deposits were yesterday produced as evidence at the "Powdergate" hearing in the Auckland District Court.

SFO forensic accountant David Osborn presented the court with paperwork that allegedly shows a complex supply chain that enabled the concealment of illegal milk powder exports.

Osborn said that intermediary company SPD was producing two invoices for each shipment of product.

One invoice, sent to Customs, described the product only as "protein substance". Another invoice, sent to the customer, would describe the product in more detail.
The SFO alleges that $45 million of premium milk powder was illegally exported by Kiwi Co-operative Dairies' employees and subcontractors on 210 occasions between January 1997 and October 2001.

At that time the Dairy Board controlled all dairy exports.