Former league boss pleads not guilty to pokie fraud

Former rugby league boss Graham Carden has pleaded not guilty to more than 120 fraud and forgery charges.

Carden, 55, of Porirua, is accused of 126 charges relating to the misuse of poker machine money.

The offending was alleged to involve $120,000 during 2003 and 2004.

Carden appeared at Wellington District Court today and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He was remanded on bail until November 1 when a date will be set for a depositions hearing, likely to take place in April or May next year.

Carden was New Zealand Rugby League chief executive in the 1990s.

- NZPA