A respected member of the Queenstown aviation community is facing 18 charges in the Queenstown District Court, primarily relating to theft from Heliworks Helicopters Queenstown Ltd - where he was formerly the managing director - totalling more than $40,000.
David Maxwell Kershaw (59) was remanded without plea by Judge Dominic Flatley after his appearance in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
Kershaw is facing two charges of obtaining pecuniary advantage by dishonestly using a document on October 10 last year, namely a Dave Kershaw Expense Account spreadsheet, July 2010 and a Heliworks Invoice.
He faces three charges of causing loss to Heliworks Helicopters Queenstown Ltd by deception, on or about December 10, 2008 at Queenstown, on April 8, 2009 at Invercargill and on August 25, 2009 at Queenstown, totalling $12,507.49.
Eight charges have been laid for fraudulently using insurance policies to commit theft against Heliworks Helicopters Queenstown Ltd, involving a total sum of $24,766.80, between February 27, 2007 and August 2, 2010.
Kershaw also faces another six charges relating to the alleged misuse of expense accounts, which include accommodation in Sydney, taxi fares, flights, the Heliworks Queenstown Helicopters Ltd business plan and Wet and Forget products, totalling $7075.35.
In total, the charge sheets record a theft from Heliworks of $44,349.64.
Defence counsel Steven Rollo, of Lane Neave, asked Judge Flatley for Kershaw to retain his passport, stating there was "no significant flight risk" due to Kershaw's family and business interests in the district. Kershaw also has business interests in Indonesia, involved in a joint-venture helicopter company, which is managed from Queenstown.
However, Mr Rollo said he was required to travel to Indonesia "at short notice", normally once every six weeks for three or four days.
"There is no real risk that he's going to leave the jurisdiction permanently."
However, prosecuting Sergeant Ian Collin said police did consider Kershaw a flight risk and in light of the serious nature of the charges opposed the application.
Judge Flatley told Kershaw the risk related to the seriousness of the charges and a possibility of "having to avoid dealing with matters, you may move off shore."
While the condition remained, Kershaw was able to make an application to the court for overseas travel if required.
Mr Rollo said Kershaw was a founding member of the Lakes District Air Rescue Trust.
A Queenstown Times story published in March said Kershaw, had flown more than 17,000 hours after beginning his career flying in Fiordland in the heady days of deer recovery.
The Kershaw Aviation Group's website said in 1985 Kershaw started Southern Lakes Helicopters Ltd based in Queenstown and spent five years as chief pilot with Hevi Lift based in Papua New Guinea, specialising in flying helicopters in challenging environments.
He earned a New Zealand service medal for his involvement in the Banda Aceh Tsunami.
Kershaw was the managing director of Heliworks Queenstown before launching The Kershaw Aviation Group with his family in October 2010.
The company's first contract was secured in Indonesia as aviation consultant for AirFast Indonesia Pty, to provide air support for the world's largest gold mine, third-largest copper mine and the world's highest open-pit mine.
