Four Northlanders earned six-figure sums carrying out IT consultancy work for various companies, including Government ministries, but failed to file GST and income-tax returns of nearly $700,000, a jury has heard.
The trial of Timothy Meredith, 45, Carol Karl, 50, Andrew Karl, 42, and Thomas Brown, 58, began before a jury of nine women and three men in Whangarei District Court yesterday.
A fifth person, Timothy Craig, 35, failed to appear and would not be tried with the other defendants.
The four are jointly charged with three counts of knowingly failing to provide information on income tax under the Tax Administration Act and Crimes' Act. The alleged offences were committed between January 2011 and July 2013.
The group are challenging the District Court's jurisdiction to hear their case, claiming they have been acquitted of wrongdoing by the Ngai Tupoto Native Council in Hokianga, and that its mana supersedes that of a court of law.