Otago Daily Times business reporter Simon Hartley investigates the background of possibly the largest fraud perpetrated against a government institution - a vulnerable hospital already in financial crisis.
Former Otago District Health Board chief information officer Michael Swann has admitted he was paid more than $755,000 by long-time friend and business associate Robin Sew Hoy as an inducement to give Mr Sew Hoy more of the board's information technology work.
Michael Swann, the fraud who used phoney computer deals to steal almost $17 million from the Otago District Health Board, might soon have his hands on a computer again - at the request of a High Court judge.
Convicted fraud and now prison inmate Michael Swann (47) has received mixed reviews from people around Dunedin who have had dealings with him.
An appeal by convicted Dunedin fraud Michael Swann against the non-parole part of his sentence will be heard by the Court of Appeal in Wellington on November 24.
Michael Swann is receiving legal aid for his trial in Christchurch next year, the Legal Services Agency has confirmed.
The trial of Michael Swann on a charge of allegedly accepting a corrupt payment from long-time friend Robin Sew Hoy has been moved to the High Court at Christchurch.
Dunedin marine and electrical engineers are believed to be preparing the Townsend Cromwell for a one-way trip to Fiji.
Some legal aid has been granted to convicted fraud Michael Swann to allow him to progress a Court of Appeal case to have his sentence reduced.
The man convicted of defrauding the Otago District Health Board of almost $17 million by masterminding a false invoicing scheme is considering appealing his conviction.
More than two years after it went on the market, one of convicted fraud Michael Swann's assets may soon be sold.
Convicted fraud Michael Swann has applied for legal aid in relation to two court cases in which he is still involved.
The next step in the recovery of money from convicted fraud Michael Swann is due to begin in about three weeks.
The High Court has issued a restraining order over assets owned by convicted fraudster Michael Swann.
The full list of known assets of convicted fraud Michael Swann have been revealed in a High Court document detailing 12 properties, 21 vehicles, five vessels and five containers of vehicle parts.
The estranged wife of convicted fraud Michael Swann opposed restraining orders on "family chattels" and sought living and legal expenses at a hearing in the High Court at Dunedin yesterday
About $7 million of assets linked to the $16.9 million fraud at the Otago District Health Board have been tracked down, although it is believed many more are still hidden, it was revealed in the High Court at Dunedin yesterday.
Michael Swann, imprisoned for nine and a-half years for defrauding the Otago District Health Board of almost $17 million last December, has lodged a notice of appeal against the length of his non-parole period.
Fraud on a massive scale has been in the headlines, from Michael Swann's $17 million efforts at the Otago District Health Board, to US financier Bernard Madoff's Ponzi-scheme billions But fraud is often much more everyday than that, as Kim Dungey and Shane Gilchrist report.
The estranged wife of convicted fraud Michael Swann may have to give up her 2005 Toyota Land Cruiser and drive "a more modest" vehicle, after directions were given in the High Court at Dunedin yesterday.
