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A Chinese man stole more than $1 million by failing to hold the money in trust for Chinese nationals wanting New Zealand residency, a jury has been told.
Jia Yi (Jeff) Wang was on trial before a jury of seven women and five men in Auckland District Court yesterday on 11 charges of using documents with intent to defraud and six charges of theft.
The charges were laid by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) after activities by Wang in 2001 and 2003.
The court heard Wang ran a chemical company, Yini Chemicals, founded in New Zealand in 1992, but had an arrangement with an immigration consultant Royden Mottram to work with Chinese nationals.
The SFO claimed Wang committed theft by fraudulently using funds from Chinese nationals required to be held to satisfy the requirements of the Immigration Service.
The trial before Judge Roderick Joyce is expected to last two weeks.
