Man on trial over fake Aussie mining jobs

Frank Yeates in the Hamilton District Court this morning. Photo / Christine Cornege

The trial has begun for a Coromandel man who allegedly promised dozens of people positions in the Australian mining industry for a price but failed to deliver on any of them.

Frank Allan Yeates, 61, is in the Hamilton District Court where he has pleaded not guilty to three charges of making a false statement as a promoter and one of fraudulently carrying on with a business.

The Crown alleges that between February 28 and June 30, 2012, Yeates ran a website called AAAjobforyou NZ Ltd and falsely claimed it had a variety of positions waiting in the mining industry. Yeates also allegedly wrongly said the company was part of an international group.

He also made a false statement on printed AAAjobforyou receipts that the funds received were being deposited into a trust fund, the Crown alleges.

The Crown is also trying to prove that Yeates was knowingly party to AAAjobforyou NZ Ltd and carried on the business with intent to defraud the public.

Many people paid $390 up-front to have their resumes rewritten, while a small number paid a further $300 for Skype interviews with mining companies that never eventuated.

The trial, which will see up to 21 witnesses called before Judge David Ruth, is set down for seven days.