16 Feb 2017

Four charged with using forged documents to get $40m loan

3:33 pm on 16 February 2017

Four people involved in a central Auckland development have been charged with using forged documents to get a $40 million loan.

They were involved in the development of The Waldorf Celestion Apartment Hotel in downtown Auckland.

Those charged are property developer Leonard John Ross, company director Michael James Wehipeihana, consultant Vaughan Stephen Foster and one other, whose name is suppressed.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) alleges they made false statements and used forged documents to get a loan of about $40m from ANZ Bank.

SFO director Julie Read said the defendants conspired to mislead ANZ, and banks are entitled to expect businesses to provide accurate information when applying for loans.