The Serious Fraud Office has filed a charge of ‘Obtaining by Deception’ against two defendants in the New Zealand First Foundation electoral funding case.

The charges were filed on 23 September.

The defendants have interim name suppression and so cannot be named or identified at this time.

However, neither defendant is a Minister, sitting MP, or candidate in the upcoming election (or a member of their staff), or a current member of the New Zealand First party.

New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters says today’s decision by the Serious Fraud Office “exonerates the New Zealand First Party of any electoral law breaches.”

 “Having fully investigated the allegations the SFO has cleared the New Zealand First Party, all of its Ministers, all sitting members of the New Zealand First party, all candidates standing for election and all party employees of any wrongdoing.”

 “It is a relief after months of this cloud hanging over the party that we have been fully cleared,” stated Mr Peters.

 The New Zealand First leader expressed his dismay at the timing and conduct of the SFO decision.

“Whilst the SFO has confirmed that no New Zealand First Minister, parliamentarian or party member broke any electoral laws, the timing of its decision to lay charges against the Foundation constitutes a James Comey-level error of judgement,” said Mr Peters.

 “It’s an appalling intrusion in a period when the people begin to think seriously about the shape of their next government.”

 “It has been amply demonstrated that FBI Director Comey’s groundless findings impacted on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. Allegations were made about me in 2008 which the SFO found to be baseless.”

 “While we respect its independence, the SFO cannot justify the timing of its decision.”

 “It is quite shocking for any who believe in fair elections that the SFO, one day from overseas voting and four days from advance voting beginning, would interpose itself into the General Election in this poorly conceived fashion.”

 “The Foundation is an entirely separate entity from the New Zealand First Party but that distinction will be lost on some, and deliberately confused by others,” said Mr Peters.

 “The way in which this investigation has been conducted raises serious questions about the conduct of the Serious Fraud Office.”

“In my opinion, the SFO has acted unreasonably and without justification both in the way in which the investigation has been conducted and in public announcements the SFO has chosen to make about the investigation in breach of the Serious Fraud Office’s own written policy of not commenting on investigations until the first appearance of any accused facing charges.” stated Mr Peters.

 “As a result, the New Zealand First Party has instructed its lawyers to issue proceedings in the High Court against the Serious Fraud Office seeking declarations that the Serious Fraud Office has amounted to an abuse of its statutory powers and has been unreasonable.”