$16.9m DHB fraudster drops appeal

Michael Swann has abandoned his appeal over the length of the non-parole term set in his sentence for his $16.9 million fraud against the Otago District Health Board.

Swann, the DHB's former chief information officer, and his friend and business associate Kerry Harford were found guilty of the massive fraud in December last year.

In March, Swann was sentenced to 9-1/2 years' jail with a minimum non-parole period of 4-1/2 years, and Harford was jailed for four years and three months.

A month later, Swann lodged an appeal, challenging the length of the non-parole term, the Otago Daily Times reported.

But yesterday, Dunedin Crown solicitor Robin Bates said the Court of Appeal had notified him that the appeal had been abandoned.

Swann had also indicated he was considering appealing his conviction, but Mr Bates said no such appeal had been filed.

- NZPA