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Former Cabinet minister Tuariki Delamere says he may appeal against a High Court judge's dismissal of his bid for costs from a failed attempt to prosecute him for fraud.
The former immigration minister had been seeking a six-figure sum in costs incurred when defending himself against 20 fraud charges brought by the Serious Fraud Office.
But Justice Patricia Courtney said the SFO investigation was conducted in a reasonable and proper manner and there was sufficient evidence to support a conviction on the 14 charges that went to the jury in the absence of contrary evidence.
She also rejected entirely Mr Delamere's suggestion of bad faith or misconduct by the SFO.
The charges Mr Delamere faced related to alleged illegal money-go-round schemes operating when he was an immigration consultant.
Six of the charges were dismissed by Justice Courtney at a trial in the High Court at Auckland last year, and he was found not guilty on the other 14 charges.
Justice Courtney said in her ruling on costs that some witnesses who were potentially relevant were not interviewed, and the manner in which one key witness's evidence was dealt with was not entirely satisfactory.
"However, in general, the approach taken by the SFO was appropriate," the judge said.
Mr Delamere said he was disappointed by the decision.
Serious Fraud Office director Grant Liddell said the SFO would study the decision to see where it could improve, but otherwise it welcomed the judgment.
- NZPA
