Accused Wānaka cancer fraudsters named

Otago Daily Times

19 hours ago

The couple's white late-model Range Rover. PHOTO: NZ POLICE
A couple living the high life in Wānaka are accused of defrauding friends and family to the tune of $1 million with a bogus cancer diagnosis.
Andrew Stewart Jones (28) and Sepiuta Setaita Vave (38) yesterday made a brief appearance before a registrar in the Queenstown District Court, where they were remanded in custody by consent.
Court documents show they are each facing four joint charges of obtaining by deception, in Hanmer Springs, over various periods between 2021 and February this year.
Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Dye, of the Tasman Organised Crime Unit, said the couple were arrested in Wānaka yesterday and charged with defrauding a person of $1,044,500 over the past two years.
The organised crime unit had been investigating the pair for only two weeks, and had acted as quickly as possible to prevent further offending.
Previously living on the West Coast, the couple had recently moved to Wanaka where they had been "living the high life" with rented properties and high-end European cars, Det Snr Sgt Dye said.
Police photos supplied to the Otago Daily Times show the couple's white late-model Range Rover.
"Their lavish lifestyle has been funded with money allegedly defrauded from family, friends and associates, for cancer treatment that inquiries show was never required and never obtained."
Ongoing financial analysis of their bank accounts indicated there were other victims who had not yet come forward, he said.
"We're identifying who they are and will be investigating their complaints."
The couple are already facing charges from last year for alleged fraud-related offending against another two victims totalling $79,000.
The unit's investigation would continue to ensure all offenders were held to account, he said.
"We're also seizing assets where possible to assist with any possible reparation, and so that potential victims are protected from further offending by this couple."
The couple are next due to appear in the Christchurch District Court on August 25 via audiovisual link.
"If you feel like you have given money away to this couple that matches with some of the deceptive reasons mentioned here or have information that can assist the inquiry, contact the Tasman Organised Crime Unit," Det Sen Sgt Dye said.
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