December 21, 2015
Tax scam used Maori trust
A former Northland man has been jailed for a tax evasion scheme which involved washing money through the accounts of a Maori trust.
Inland Revenue told the court Timothy Vivian Meredith put money he and three associates earned from IT consultancy work through the Nga Uri o Tupoto Incorporation bank account.
It was paid back out again for so called personal service contracts, with no income tax or GST returns being filed.
Meredith had previously been prosecuted and made bankrupt in 2008 for failing to file tax returns for an accounting and business mentoring service.
He was sentenced to three and a half years jail.
During the trial Meredith challenged the District Court's jurisdiction to hear their case, saying he has been cleared of wrongdoing by the Ngai Tupoto Native Council in Hokianga.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com