Friday, 15 January 2016 09:37

Serious fraud office charges over dairy and honey products

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Charges have been laid by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the Hamilton District Court against Trevor James Lock.

Charges have been laid by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the Hamilton District Court against Trevor James Lock (54) for failing to supply contracted dairy and honey products worth $1.06 million.

Lock, a former dairy industry scientist, was arrested in Morrinsville on December 22, 2015 and appeared in court to face 11 charges under the Crimes Act of obtaining by deception, four charges of forgery and two charges of dishonestly using a document. He also faces two charges under the SFO Act for obstructing an SFO investigation.

The charges relate to Lock's companies, Nubiotics Lrd (Nubiotics) and Nu-Brands Ltd (Nu-Brands), that claimed to be distributors of dairy and honey products. Through these entities, Lock entered into a number of contracts to supply product - which it is alleged he failed to complete. Deposits received under the failed contracts were not repaid and the SFO alleges that the money was used by Lock for personal or other business expenses. The charges relate to customer funds worth about $1.06 million.

Nubiotics was placed into receivership in August 2014. Lock still has Nu-Brands in operation.

The SFO alleges Lock obtained a pecuniary advantage by evading repayment of customers' deposits, by making false statements concerning production and supply, by forging copies of bank statements and by dishonestly using other documents. It is also alleged that Lock knowingly supplying false information to the SFO.

Lock was remanded on bail without plea and will next appear in the Hamilton District Court on January 27, 2016.

More like this

Police urge rural property owners to improve security and prevent theft

New Zealand Police is urging rural property owners to remain vigilant and ensure their property is secure.

Drunk on power!

OPINION: The end-of-year booze-up at the posh Northern Club in Auckland must have been a beauty, as the legal 'elite' let their hair down and showed us how entitled and political some in the judiciary really are.

'If it seems weird, report it' - Police

Southern District Police are investigating a number of thefts, with tools and ATVs among the items stolen across a wide area, from the outskirts of Invercargill to as far out as Hedgehope.

Police intercept rogue rural thieves

Quick thinking from members of the public has led Police to stopping a pair of thieves from stealing items from rural mailboxes.

Farmers want army’s help to control crime

Farmers want the Government to deploy the army to deter crime in rural areas of Coromandel, East Cape and Hawke's Bay.

Featured

Another record milk price for Tatua suppliers

Independent Waikato milk processor Tatua has set another new record for conventional farmgate milk price paid to New Zealand farmers.

Editorial: Nitrate emergency?

OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.

LUDF adopts tactical variable milking to boost profitability

An early adopter of a 10-in-7 variable milking regime, the Lincoln University Demonstration Dairy Farm (LUDF) is tweaking the system this season in search of further boosting farm performance and profitability.

DairyNZ: Strong payouts offset high farm costs

The dairy sector is in a relatively stable position, with strong milk price payout forecasts continuing to offset ongoing high farm costs, according to DairyNZ.

Federated Farmers slam Canterbury nitrate emergency

A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.