After a twelve and a half year career in the New Zealand Police, Michael resigned at the rank of Senior Sergeant in 1981 and began one of the first professional Private Investigation agencies to be established by former New Zealand Police Detectives.
This agency quickly grew from it's Rotorua origins to it's present position as a leader in today's investigation market. Michael's business interest in this organisation was sold in 1987 and he re-established himself in Auckland trading on his own account.
In 1993 he developed a specialist security audit business in Auckland for the specific purposes of designing security audit programmes for corporate and business clients. Clients to avail themselves of this audit process have included leading law practices, local Government and major public companies.
Recent major investigations that Michael has conducted include:
- Investigations into International Odometer Fraud (involving the high profile enquiry over the importation of second hand vehicles from Japan).
- Investigations into Serious Health Provider Fraud.
- Major Insurance Arson/Fraud investigations.
- Investigations and preparation of a major civil fraud case involving the disputed ownership of land on Matakana Island .
- Investigations into a fraudulent money laundering scheme operated in Europe which resulted in the recovery of NZ$6.5 million from a German National who was located in New Zealand (Ralf Simon) and who was eventually declared a prohibited immigrant in New Zealand.
- Management and investigation of an organized crime group who specialized in commercial burglaries of electronic equipment storage and distribution centres in South Auckland . Nineteen offenders were eventually convicted on a variety of burglary and receiving charges and substantial amounts of stolen property was recovered.
- Management of an undercover operation that exposed employees involvement in a major theft ring which was operating in competition to their employer, a major Beverage company. Product valued at thousands of dollars was being stolen on a daily basis. Seventeen staff were subsequently prosecuted criminally for theft as a servant.
- Investigation and preparation of a criminal complaint involving a serious rape attack on a 17 year old victim.
- Investigation of criminal activity involving industrial espionage, theft and the unlawful reproduction of computer files in a major civil case concerning breach of arrangements over the production of software that was sold for US$27 million.
- Investigation and apprehension of offenders involved in serious wilful damage at a major Auckland Secondary School.
In addition to qualifying by examination to Commissioned Officer rank in the Police, Michael also qualified as a Detective. He underwent Tertiary training during his police service and achieved passes in subjects associated with Business Law, Industrial Law, Law of Business Organisations, Criminology, Evidence and Criminal Law. He has a Diploma in NZ Policing from the Royal NZ Police College.
During his years in the Police he had experience administering a uniform branch shift as the Officer in Charge of the daily activity at the Rotorua Police Station, he was the relieving Detective Senior Sergeant in the Otahuhu Criminal Investigation Branch and the Officer in Charge of the Papakura CIB Office. His experience included postings as Detective Sergeant in the Hastings Criminal Investigation Office, Detective Sergeant on the Criminal Intelligence Section running covert drug and general crime undercover operations. His experience also included investigation assignments whilst attached to the Auckland Central CIB Fraud Squad and the General Squad involving Fraud, Homicide and more general offending involving thefts, burglaries, assaults and armed hold-ups.
Michael is a member of the International Police Association; Toastmasters International, Chairman of the Omaha Beach Residents Society Inc., the Downtown Rotary Club, the World Investigators Network, an associate of the Certified Fraud Examiners Association. He holds the qualification of Certified Fraud Examiner.
He is a past member and was a foundation member of the International Association of Arson Investigators – (now known as the Fire Investigators Association of NZ Inc). |
