Former detective's $64,000 fraud

Richard Edgar Anderson
Richard Edgar Anderson
A founding member of the organising committee which hosts the annual Pub Charity New Zealand Sevens in Queenstown abused trust placed in him as he accumulated $64,000 through deception, Judge Michael Turner said in the Queenstown District Court today.

Former New Zealand Police detective and real estate agent Richard Edgar Anderson (51), of Lake Hayes, was sentenced to 10 months home detention and ordered to pay $48,601 reparation within two years by Judge Turner.

At a sentencing indication in July, the details of which were suppressed until today, Judge Turner said Mr Anderson had abused trust placed in him and tarnished the reputation of the event organising committee.

"People put their faith and trust in you and you abused it in a gross way.

"You did so for your own personal financial gain.

"You [deprived] sporting youth of this area of significant funds, you cast doubt over the integrity of the entire Sevens with Altitude committee."

Anderson was authorised to incur costs relating to the tournament, for example team's air travel and accommodation, and then claim for reimbursement from the committee. He was also authorised to accrue airpoints.

However, in December 2010 when Anderson presented an invoice to the committee purporting to be from the Mecure hotel for accommodation for the 2011 tournament, the treasurer noticed a "sizeable increase".

The committee also received a 10% commission on the accommodation, part of the money paid to Otago country rugby. Anderson sent a tax invoice on Sevens letterhead to the hotel for $11,289.40 - the 2009 booking commission refund - and four days later emailed a new tax invoice in the same amount to the hotel, requesting the money be paid directly to him.

He banked the money and none was received by Sevens with Altitude.

Anderson was confronted with the evidence on February 12 this year at a committee meeting and admitted the offending.

Anderson had since made some reparation payments, however $48,601 was still outstanding.

Judge Turner said in July there was "no question" about Anderson being in a position of trust, partly due to his former profession as a police detective.

 

 

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