The former chief executive of Christchurch Polytechnic, who has reportedly been sentenced to five years' jail by a Middle Eastern court for fraud, has denied the allegations.
John Scott, who moved to Bahrain in 2007 to run its polytechnic, was sentenced in absentia to five years' jail for using polytechnic bank cards to pay for his personal expenses.
Mr Scott, who is back in Christchurch, said the case arose because a vindictive education minister was angry with him.
He said he has not embezzled funds but there was no way he can fight the case.
"I'm not going to go back to Bahrain and try and clear it because that would avail nothing."
