Former Dunedin barrister Raelene Marie Kelly has been struck off by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal over tax evasion offences.
Kelly had fled to Australia after evading more than $180,000 in tax.
She did not appear at a trial at which she faced 46 charges, despite signalling her intention to do so, while she also failed to appear at this week's hearing.
The disciplinary charge alleged that she had been convicted of offences punishable by imprisonment, which reflect on her fitness to practise or bring the profession into disrepute.
Ms Kelly's convictions included charges of aiding and abetting her incorporated law firm to commit offences under the Tax Administration Act 1994 which were proven in the Dunedin District Court in 2015.
Thirty-one charges related to her knowingly applying PAYE deductions to a purpose other than paymen tto the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, while 15 related to her knowingly failing to provide a GST return to Inland Revenue.
The unpaid PAYE and associated deductions totalled $60,993 and the GST owing was $122,633, making the total unpaid tax liability $183,626.
The New Zealand Law Society National Prosecutions Manager, Mark Treleaven, said instead of paying the $60,993 to the Commissioner, she used the money for personal expenses such as mortgage payments, overseas travel, alcohol, private school fees and a monthly payment for a Jaguar vehicle.
Along with being struck off the roll, she was ordered to pay the New Zealand Law Society $12,683 to reimburse the costs of the hearing.
