Cost of failed fraud case likely to top $2m

The failed Serious Fraud Office case against four men accused of taking millions from rescue helicopter charities is likely to cost millions.

Wayne Porter, Peter Pharo, Malcolm Beattie and Stewart Romley walked free from the High Court at Auckland last October after a four-year investigation and a five-week trial.

The bill for their defence and the Serious Fraud Office prosecution could easily top $2 million, say some of the lawyers involved.

The four were each charged with conspiracy to defraud the trusts behind the Westpac helicopter and ChildFlight fixed-wing aircraft.