11 Jun 2015

Accountants lose bid to overturn convictions

10:23 am on 11 June 2015

Two Wellington accountants jailed for tax fraud have been unsuccessful in their bid to have their convictions overturned.

Barrie Skinner and David Rowley were jailed in August 2012 for eight years and eight-and-a-half years respectively.

At the time, the sentences were the longest ever imposed for such offending.

The men's accounting business had filed false income tax and GST returns on behalf of clients for services that were never provided.

Skinner and Rowley gained more than $2 million through the scheme.

In a judgement released this morning, the Court of Appeal turned down their request to place more evidence before the court and has upheld their convictions and sentences.

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