30 May 2013

Former media agency head faces SFO fraud charges

10:58 am on 30 May 2013

The former owner of a media placement agency faces 23 charges brought by the Serious Fraud Office.

The Media Counsel provided services in media planning, public relations, consumer insights and event management to clients.

Former owner and director Glenda Mary Wynyard faces 19 charges of causing loss by deception and four charges of dishonestly using a document.

The agency was placed into liquidation in April 2010 and the SFO started investigating after a complaint from the liquidators.

The SFO alleges Ms Wynyard directed approximately $2.4 million of client invoice payments due to Aegis Media, a company she was working for, to repay debts to Marac Finance.

She has been remanded to reappear in the Auckland District Court on 19 June.