Friday, 15 January 2016 09:37

Serious fraud office charges over dairy and honey products

Written by Rural News Group

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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.

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