Serious fraud case transferred to Auckland

The prosecution case of a Tauranga man accused of fleecing more than $4.2 million from a number of people has been transferred to the Auckland District Court.

Mark Lawrence Ivil, 58, who faced 39 charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office when he appeared in Tauranga District Court today, had been expected to enter pleas to the charges.

That is, 21 charges of obtaining by deception, 14 charges of obtaining by false pretences, plus two charges each of using a forged document and obstructing an investigation.

The charges stem from an allegation that Ivil survived financially on cash and direct credit payments dishonestly obtained from a number of people between 1990 and 2014.

Tauranga lawyer Tony Balme told Judge Robert Wolff that he was acting as agent for Ivil's Rotorua-based barrister, who had only just been assigned and sought more time to discuss the matter with his client.

Mr Balme said by agreement with the Tauranga Crown solicitor Greg Hollister-Jones the charges could be transferred to the Auckland District Court Judge Wolff consented to the transfer and further remanded Ivil on bail without pleas to next appear in the Auckland court on August 25.

By Sandra Conchie of the Bay of Plenty Times