Finance company adviser charged

Hugh Edward Staples Hamilton has been found guilty at the Auckland High Court of 14 charges arising out of the collapse of Belgrave Finance.

The charges were brought in a joint prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office and the Financial Markets Authority.

The charges related to loans, with a value of more than $12 million, made by Belgrave Finance to various related companies between June 2005 and March 2008.

Hamilton, a former barrister and solicitor, was a legal adviser.