Businessman sentenced over secret deals

A businessman convicted of fraud was today sentenced in the High Court in Auckland to community work and ordered to pay $60,000 reparation.

Mark Aspinall, 53, was found guilty last month of two charges under the Secret Commissions Act.

The Auckland businessman paid $38,250 to two former senior managers at Wilsons Parking as an inducement to win a contract to install emergency telephones in the company's buildings.

Justice Graham Panckhurst said Aspinall made a net profit of $53,000 for his secret deals with Timothy Warrington Ellis and David Bart Van Dam.

His decision to "succumb to temptation" had cost him his reputation.

"I have no doubt you are hardworking and have been a good husband and good father but your involvement in these two crimes leaves your reputation in tatters," he said.

Aspinall had never previously been before the courts.

Justice Panckhurst sentenced him to 250 hours' community work and ordered him to pay a "moderate" reparation figure of $60,000 within one month to the complainant company.

- NZPA