Swney pleads guilty to tax evasion
Charges relate to $1.8 million in unpaid taxes. IRD also alleges the former Heart of the City boss owes $1.4 million in penalties and interest.
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Hawke’s Bay
A new lawyer for Alex Swney, the former boss of Auckland business organisation Heart of the City, has entered guilty pleas on behalf of his client in court this morning.
Last year Mr Swney – who was being represented by David Jones QC – denied the tax evasion charges.
Today in the Auckland District Court Mr Swney admitted to charges laid by the IRD covering $1.8 million in unpaid taxes, NZME reports. Mr Swney is now represented by Murray Gibson.
Although there were intially 38 charges, today all but four charges, which cover the range of offending, were dropped.
The IRD also alleges Mr Swney owes $1.4 million in penalties and interest, NZME says.
The former Auckland CBD promoter also faces civil proceedings by Heart of the City’s board, which undertook an independent investigation when the allegations surfaced.
Judge Grant Fraser remanded Mr Swney on bail and he will be sentenced in April.
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 also had funded the Whitcoulls Santa each Christmas, but NBR Rich Listers the Mansons and SkyCity are now funding the statute for five years.
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.
Victoria Young
Wed, 28 Jan 2015
Wed, 28 Jan 2015
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Swney pleads guilty to tax evasion
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