Man on counts of share fraud

Press, 5 August 1988, Page 15

Man on counts of share fraud

PA Auckland A former Euro-National Corporation executive, Ross Haddon Speakman, who is accused of share fraud, is unlikely to stand trial before early next year. Speakman, aged 30, a former property developer, was yesterday committed for trial by jury in the District Court on five charges. A date will be set on October 5. A sixth charge, of misusing a Euro-National certificate, valued at $15,000 to obtain a benefit, was adjourned to the same date. Mr Richard

Mr Richard Ewarwaker, for the Crown, sought to withdraw the charge because a witness was overseas but Mr Simon Lockhart, for Speakman, asked Judge Rushton to dismiss

it. The Judge adjourned the charge and agreed to Mr Lockhart’s request that directed the Crown to finalise its indictment by October 5. Speakman is charged with concealing details of a share title agreement on May 22 last year, causing a buyer to make out a cheque for $592,515 by representing on the same date that he had full title to 300,000 Argus Corp shares, and concealing an agreement with Egnal Holding, Ltd, to induce United Pacific Merchant Securities, Ltd, to accept a share title.

He is also charged with making a false declaration on May 28 about loss of a share scrip and using a share certificate on the same day to avoid financial penalty.