Judge freezes $17m health board fraudster's long list of assets

The full list of known assets of convicted fraud Michael Swann have been revealed in a High Court document which details seven houses and dozens of sections or building plots, 21 vehicles, eight boatss and five containers of vehicle parts.

In a reserved decision, Justice Christine French granted the Solicitor-General a restraining order over all of Swann's assets under the Proceeds of Crimes Act.

Crown solicitor Marie Grills confirmed yesterday the order applied not only to the known assets but to any other assets not yet uncovered.

When seeking the restraining order at a court hearing this month, Ms Grills told the court Swann had not assisted with the recovery of the proceeds of the offending and had actively tried to mislead authorities.

Ms Grills said the search for Swann's assets would continue.

In March, Swann was jailed for nine years and six months for defrauding the Otago District Health Board of almost $17 million.

Much of Justice French's decision dealt with "family chattels" that Swann's estranged wife, Anna Devereux, considered should not be part of the restraining order.

Ms Devereux was the only one of 15 respondents to oppose the order.

At the hearing, her counsel, Len Andersen, argued that "family chattels" remained Ms Devereux's property, because Swann did not own them and there was no evidence they were "tainted".

Justice French said police made inquiries which "appear to establish that certain items of furniture" were purchased by Ms Devereux "using cheques signed by Mr Swann" and drawn on the account of one of his companies which received $9 million of the defrauded money.

Justice French did not accept the "bland assertion" that the household contents must belong to Ms Devereux by virtue of being in her possession.

Ms Devereux had an assurance from the Crown that she could "uplift" items she could show belonged to her personally.

Justice French ruled that Ms Devereux and her children, "pending the further order of the court", could continue to live at their Ferntree Drive house, receive rental from tenanted properties and use a 2005 Land Cruiser until a replacement was provided.

Ms Grills said the next step was for the Crown to apply for a pecuniary penalty order and forfeiture orders in relation to restrained property. That was likely to happen soon.

* Swann estate

Property: 7 houses and 24 sections or building plots.

Vehicles: 21 cars, motorbikes and trailers, including 4 Rolls-Royces.

Vessels: 8 boats, including 2 tugs and a 50 metre former research ship.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES