Jury out today in fake degree case

A jury will today begin deciding whether Auckland businesswoman Rebecca Li was the brains behind a massive fraud and forgery ring, or merely the unsuspecting victim of staff turned feral.

Li, 35, faces 49 fraud-related charges after fake documents, including university degrees and corporate seals, were recovered from her property in Grey Lynn by police in June 2004.

Li has insisted that the forgeries were the work of rogue employees. But Crown prosecutor Bruce Northwood told the jury yesterday to disregard suggestions she was duped by dishonest employees, working the racket behind her back.

He said Li hired many employees on a temporary basis, with few staying more than a couple of weeks or months.

"Is it credible to say that this rotating group of people ... would be involved in the commercial forgery we are hearing about.

"Would [Li] have a steady stream of forgers who came, went, then were replaced?"

Mr Northwood said there was "an abundance of evidence" that Li was "close to the action, and was the mastermind of all this".

"What was going on here was a commercial forgery business, and here are the tools of the trade," he said, brandishing bundles of high-quality paper.

He cited prosecution witness, Clay Sen, who had told the court Li had asked him if he knew of anyone looking to buy degrees, or knew of recent graduates from whom she could get up-to-date copies of certificates.

But defence lawyer David Young said staff members were behind the operation, and his client was oblivious to the offending.

He said it was one thing to blame Li for the performance of her company, but it was wrong to make her a "scapegoat" when one of her staff members went bad.

Clay Sen, who had admitted animosity towards Li, was a prime suspect, Mr Young said.

"Unless you believe everything he says, the Crown case must fail."

A fingerprint expert gave evidence that of 130 items tested, Li's fingerprints were found on only three, Mr Young said.

He also criticised police for failing to carry out expert handwriting analysis as a number of documents were "just crying out" for testing.

Li had cooperated with police throughout the investigation, only refusing to answer questions after the arrival of her lawyer.

Li has no previous criminal convictions.