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Former National MP and Children's Commissioner Roger McClay will deny fraud charges, his lawyer says.
McClay, 65, a Member of Parliament for 15 years until 1996,
faced 56 charges of using documents to obtain a pecuniary advantage
when he appeared in Auckland District Court on Friday
morning.
The charges allege he abused his right as a former MP to get
heavily discounted, taxpayer-subsidised flights while working for
charities, including Keep New Zealand Beautiful, World Vision and
Heart Children New Zealand.
As a former MP, McClay qualifies for taxpayer subsidised flights - 12 domestic trips a year with a 90% subsidy.
But it is alleged when he did take those cheap flights he was also sending bills to several charities for the mileage for the same trip.
The alleged frauds began in 2005 and range from $109 to just over $1,100. The total sum involved is $26,000.
When ONE News visited McClay at his Auckland home last weekend, he said he had taken legal advice and was not prepared to comment.
In court on Friday McClay said nothing as he stood in the dock.
His lawyer Guyon Foley says every one of the charges will be denied and there will be a large number of statements presented to the court.
McClay was remanded on bail until April 23 and refused to talk on the way in and out of court.
McClay was Minister of Youth Affairs and associate Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Pacific Island Affairs during his spell in parliament.
A teacher by profession, he was honoured with a Queens Service Order for public service and his work for children.
His son, Todd McClay, is the National MP for Rotorua.
