6. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Commerce
Who were the “powerful interests” who attempted to stop the Securities Commission insider trading case involving David Richwhite and Sir Michael Fay, she reportedly referred to in her speech to the House on 19 June 2007?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Attorney-General) Link to this
What the Minister actually said was: “There were interests out there who did not want the defendants pursued.” The Minister was referring to those who attacked the Securities Commission for taking and continuing to pursue the case.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Is the Minister aware of people involved in this case threatening those on the Securities Commission and those assisting the Securities Commission, in respect of their future contracts and employment; if so, who would those parties be?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I do not have information in relation to that in front of me. I think that would be a very serious matter indeed, which would be worthy of further investigation.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Has the Minister of Commerce, having seen that her officials in their first proper investigation of these two gentlemen achieved a strike rate of one out of one, had any reports prepared for the head of the Serious Fraud Office and the head of the Inland Revenue Department as to what their proper action should have been, which they did not take and therefore enable themselves to be accused of being grossly negligent of their duty?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
No, I have no such information in front of me. I am not aware that any such reports were prepared. The Serious Fraud Office has close to a 90 percent success rate in its prosecutions.