Multi-millionaire convicted of stealing pokie money loses his appeal

Michael McGurk was found guilty last year of stealing some $35,000 from central Auckland hotel and bar, the Albion. Photo / File

A former multi-millionaire who fell from grace after being found guilty of stealing pokie money from his bar has today lost appeals against his conviction and sentence.

Michael McGurk was found guilty last year of stealing some $35,000 from central Auckland hotel and bar, the Albion.

A jury at Auckland District Court found McGurk guilty of theft by a person in a special relationship after the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) brought the charge.

A gambling compliance director said McGurk used the pokie money for hotel trading expenses.

McGurk told the Herald on Sunday last year the conviction was "an absolute joke" and he promised an appeal.

Fourteen months on, the Court of Appeal has rejected his case.

The DIA said the money McGurk took was meant for the Pacific Sports and Community Trust, later known as the Nautilus Foundation.

McGurk was sentenced to five months' home detention and 100 hours of community work.

The Court of Appeal today ordered he hand himself in to start his sentence of home detention and community service.

McGurk was once worth $60m, according to the NBR Rich List.

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