The case against a woman of obtaining by false pretense which stretches back nearly five years, has been described as unsatisfactory by her lawyer.

As Ngamau Wichman-Tou’s name was read out in the High Court on Friday, lawyer Norman George said the matter came up for sentencing in January last year before he asked to have the charges dismissed in March 2022.

He said there was no evidence of fraud and Crown Law had been sympathetic for the charges to be withdrawn.

“That was the beginning of a marathon adjournment.”

“It is $6000, not $600,000, this can’t go on.

“It is getting close to miscarriage of justice; I submit Crown withdraw the charges or if be dismissed.”  

Chief Justice Patrick Keane told Crown lawyer Jamie Crawford the matter was unsatisfactory.

Crawford earlier said the prosecution was still awaiting records from New Zealand.

“We are going through financial intelligence units here and in New Zealand.”

Crawford told CJ Keane she was now in his hands.

He said it appeared approaches from Cook Islands and New Zealand had been fruitless.

He asked for a memorandum to be filed, as to what had been done.

“If we don’t get into it, it raises more acutely what Mr George has been talking about.”

George said he was unhappy with the matter and would be seeking costs.

The matter was adjourned to February 24.