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The man behind the largest benefit fraud in New Zealand has been sent to the High Court for sentencing.
Judge Heemi Taumaunu told a packed Waitakere District Court yesterday that Wayne Patterson's $3.4 million - $54,000 a fortnight scam - was likely to set a sentencing tariff, which means it is a High Court matter.
Patterson, 47, was charged after a police and Social Development Ministry raid on his Massey flat last year uncovered $750,000 buried in the garden, $200,000 and 18 gold bars under the shower and $13,000 cash in his car.
Boxes of fake birth certificates, bank cards, driver licences and passports were also found. It is estimated Patterson used at least 123 identities in the course of his three-year fraud.
Judge Taumaunu - in declining sentencing jurisdiction - described Patterson's fraud as "extremely serious offending, which is unprecedented".
He remanded Patterson in custody for High Court sentencing on May 29.
The Crown has begun a civil action under the Proceeds of Crime Bill to get some reparation from Patterson.
He will return to the High Court for call-over on that matter on April 11.
