Computer held evidence of fraud

The conviction of an Auckland man for GST fraud has demonstrated that computers can hold important evidence in tax prosecutions, the Inland Revenue (IRD) said.

William Henry Hawken, 56, a tax and property consultant, was jailed for 12 months yesterday by Judge Ajit Singh after earlier being found guilty in Manukau District Court of six charges relating to GST fraud on property deals.

The court was told that Hawken, who controlled three different companies, wrongly claimed GST refunds.

This included using fake invoices and altering documents to support GST claims; and claiming GST back twice on the purchase of one property. The frauds involved one Queenstown and three Northland properties.

Police, working with Inland Revenue officers, seized Hawken's computer to obtain the evidence needed. In a pre-trial hearing last July, Hawken challenged the admissibility of evidence from the computer.

However, Judge Singh found the search and seizure was lawful, and allowed the case to proceed.

- NZPA