Name suppression has been lifted on an Auckland chartered accountant convicted on seven fraud charges concerning salary manipulation.In the Auckland High Court this morning, Mark Benjamin lost his appeal to keep the suppression in place ahead of sentencin
Name suppression has been lifted on an Auckland chartered accountant convicted on seven fraud charges concerning salary manipulation.
In the Auckland High Court this morning, Mark Benjamin lost his appeal to keep the suppression in place ahead of sentencing later this month.
The charges related to tampering with the payroll of bulk food importer Kerry (NZ), where he was the chief financial officer during 2006, to boost his $165,000 salary by $10,000 and to manipulate holiday pay to his advantage.
Benjamin, who works as a self-employed consultant, is a former director of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority and government-owned Hort Research.
He has also worked internationally for PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Name suppression was due to be lifted at 4pm on Friday after he was convicted on seven fraud charges at the Auckland District Court.
But he appealed to the High Court to keep his identity secret, on the grounds publication of his name would harm his professional reputation as a chartered accountant and that stress of the criminal proceedings had adversely affected his mental health.
This morning, Justice Timothy Brewer denied the appeal and said he could not find compelling reason to keep the suppression in place.
It was important suspicion was not cast on other members of the industry, Justice Brewer said.
Benjamin will be sentenced on December 21.
