The New Zealand Serious Fraud Office announced that Christopher Peters has pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court to four charges of obtaining by deception linked to a $4.47 million mortgage fraud scheme and one charge of obtaining by deception linked to a $1.8 million investment fraud. The case concerns schemes the SFO alleges were run by multiple members of an Auckland family. The mortgage offending involved false representations to banks and conveyancing solicitors to obtain loans for four residential properties, including false documents about employment, salary, property purchase prices and cash gifts used to support the purchases. The investment offending involved false representations to an investor about low-risk share and bond portfolio securities said to be held by fund managers in Singapore, alongside a claim that the funds would be insured by a Lloyd's of London policy that did not exist. Following Christopher Peters' guilty pleas, the Crown offered no evidence against his brother Robert Peters and the Court dismissed those charges. Francis Peters and Gur Raj Bhachu had previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced for their part in the mortgage fraud scheme. Christopher Peters is due to be sentenced on 30 October 2026.
Serious Fraud Office2026-05-27
New Zealand Serious Fraud Office secures guilty plea from third defendant in $4.47 million mortgage and $1.8 million investment fraud case
The New Zealand Serious Fraud Office reported that Christopher Peters pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court to four charges of obtaining by deception relating to a NZD 4.47 million mortgage fraud and one charge relating to a NZD 1.8 million investment fraud involving false representations to banks and an investor. The Crown offered no evidence against his brother Robert Peters, whose charges were dismissed, while co-defendants Francis Peters and Gur Raj Bhachu had previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced.