Fraudster's husband to sue firms she duped

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The husband of a Masterton woman jailed for 18 months for fraud intends suing three finance companies she duped by forging his signature.

Instead of offering to pay the $122,000 still owed to the companies – money that a judge said he could easily raise – he is blaming the money lenders for his wife's fraud.

"He resents that they loaned the money in his name when they must have known something was going on. There should have been proper security checks," the woman's lawyer, Jock Blathwayt, said during her sentencing in Masterton District Court yesterday.

The man, a well-known professional in Wairarapa, was planning to take civil action against Diners Club NZ, GE Money and American Express, the court was told. He had already come to a repayment arrangement with Medical Assurance Society.

The woman, 45, forged her husband's signature to borrow more than $177,463 over three years. She pleaded guilty to eight charges of obtaining by deception. Her husband was kept in the dark about their level of debt.

The woman's drive to get loans began with an application to Diners Club NZ in 2006, with $17,624 still outstanding.

Between February 2007 and March 2009, she secured further loans from GE Money – $58,721 in total; American Express, which is now owed $46,118, and Medical Assurance Society.

On every occasion she forged her husband's signature, signed as a witness using a false name, and provided copies of her husband's driver's licence and payslips.

She was caught out last year when she could no longer cover up the debt she was in.

Judge Jan Kelly said the crimes, by a woman who had a privileged upbringing, were pre-mediated.

"You told probation that you first applied for a loan out of frustration and anger toward your husband and you went on to apply for more. You say you got mental stimulation from juggling all the repayments. You and your husband can raise the capital to repay what you took through fraud, but you both choose not to."

As the woman was led out of court yesterday to begin her jail term, her lawyer immediately began the process of appealing against her sentence and Judge Kelly's decision not to grant her name suppression.

Judge Kelly said in sentencing that the woman and her husband, who feared his career would suffer, should face the normal consequences of distress and embarrassment. The impact on them was nothing out of the ordinary in open justice, she said, in refusing the application for permanent name suppression.

"I favour open reporting. You have been convicted and these are serious crimes. No preference should be given to those prominent in the community."

However, an appeal was lodged and Judge Kelly was forced half an hour later to recall the case and grant interim name suppression, pending the outcome of the appeal in the High Court at Wellington.

- © Fairfax NZ News