Swney faces civil suit from Heart of the City
Heart of the City has also obtained interim asset freezing and disclosure orders from the court.
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Hawke’s Bay
Business association Heart of the City is taking legal action against its former chief executive Alex Swney.
In October Radio NZ reported Mr Swney has been accused of evading millions of dollars in tax. The 39 charges carry a maximum five-year jail sentence or a $50,000 fine.
Now, Heart of the City says it has initiated civil proceedings against Mr Swney in the High Court at Auckland.
Chairman Terry Gould says the action comes after the completion of an investigation by advisory firm McGrathNicol into the association’s finances and activities during Mr Swney’s reign.
Heart of the City has also obtained interim asset freezing and disclosure orders from the court.
Mr Gould said it is inappropriate for him to comment further given the matter is before the courts.
Heart of the City is mostly funded by targeted business rates and its purpose is to promote business in the Auckland CBD.
In its most recently available annual report for 2011-2012, the organisation records receiving $4.47 million in revenue.
Earlier this year the association teamed up with Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED) to fund a domestic tourism campaign. It had also funded the Whitcoulls Santa each Christmas but the giant decoration is now supported by NBR Rich List family the Mansons and Sky City.
Mr Swney had been at the helm of the business association for more than a decade. In 2007 he unsuccessfully ran for mayor of (then) Auckland City Council, which he lost to John Banks.
He did not immediately respond to NBR ONLINE's request for comment.
Victoria Young
Fri, 12 Dec 2014
Fri, 12 Dec 2014
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Swney faces civil suit from Heart of the City
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