31 Jan 2012

Ex principal pleads guilty to fraud charges

2:28 pm on 31 January 2012

A former principal of Fraser High School in Hamilton has pleaded guilty to a reduced number of fraud charges laid against him at the end of 2010.

Martin Elliott appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday and admitted two charges of using a document for pecuniary advantage.

He originally faced 63 fraud-related charges and one of money laundering.

That was reduced to 33 charges late last year, and reduced further on Tuesday to two charges.

The charges relate to public money being used for private purposes while Elliott was the principal.

He will be sentenced on 9 February.

In 2010, a former Executive Officer at the school, James Branton pleaded guilty to six fraud charges, which were all related to the original charges laid against Mr Elliot.