Serious Fraud Office director Julie Read.
Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
None of the individuals are sitting MPs, or current or former Labour officials.
In July last year, the agency announced an investigation into donations made to the party in 2017, following similar inquiries into both National and New Zealand First. The defendants are entitled to seek name suppression therefore the SFO will not be naming any defendants until any name suppression issues have been resolved, the SFO said.
In a statement, Labour Party general secretary Rob Salmond said his party had not sought any suppression orders from the courts. The Labour Party has complied with the law, he said.
“As the matter is before the courts, we won’t be making any further comment,” Salmond said. In July 2020, SFO director Julie Read did not elaborate on the particulars of the investigation, which appeared to have blindsided the party.
Michael Bradley
Chief Executive & Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Julie Read. At the time, Labour Party President Claire Szabo said the party had not been advised of the specifics of the inquiry into the donations. However, she noted that two men being investigated by the SFO over donations they made to the National Party had also made donations to Labour. She said donations were above board.
Serious Fraud Office charges six people in Labour Party donations case
12 May, 2021 11:18 PM
4 minutes to read
Serious Fraud Office director Julie Read. Photo / Greg Bowker
The Serious Fraud Office has filed charges after an investigation into donations made to the Labour Party in 2017.
The criminal charges are against six people in relation to a donation made to the Labour Party and were filed yesterday in the Auckland District Court. The defendants are entitled to seek name suppression therefore the SFO will not be naming any defendants until any name suppression issues have been resolved, the SFO said in a statement.