Fifty-one-year-old Shane Charles Wenzel, an Australian who also goes by the name Tane Rakau, was yesterday found guilty in the Manukau District Court of eight charges brought by the Serious Fraud Office and not guilty of 12 charges.
Wenzel was central to King’s alibi as to why her sister's mobile phone routed a call through a Mangere cell tower at a time when she and her sisters claimed to be in West Auckland after the deaths of Chris and Cru Kahui.
He was her sister’s boss and she told an inquest that he had told spotted them in a company car and told her sister to go and change cars.
Wenzel was facing 17 charges under Section 228(b) of the Crimes Act of using documents dishonestly with intent to obtain a pecuniary advantage, and two charges under Section 229A of using a document with intent to defraud (for offences occurring pre October 2003). In addition, Wenzel faced a charge under Section 45 of the Serious Fraud Office Act, of failing to comply with a notice issued by the Office. He was found not guilty of this charge.
The other charges relate to dishonest loan applications arising from the sale and purchase of properties in South Auckland during the significant upturn in the property market between May 2003 and October 2004.
He had earlier been sentenced to five years over a $4.5 million mortgage fraud involving his hapu, but all 36 convictions were quashed and a retrial ordered.
Acting SFO Chief Executive, Simon McArley said, “Shane Wenzel encouraged loan applicants to submit false documents to lenders. It is important that offenders be brought to account for such conduct.”
Wenzel is due to reappear in the Manukau District Court for sentencing on 23 November.
