A former police officer has pleaded guilty to 49 charges in relation to the theft of about $640,000 from a hapū organisation in Taranaki.
Shaun Joseph Keenan Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Shaun Joseph Keenan pleaded not guilty to a further eight charges related to theft from Ngāti Te Whiti Whenua Topu Trust when he appeared in the New Plymouth District court this morning.
Keenan, 56, is the former chief executive officer of the trust.
He was a police officer for more than 20 years in Taranaki, Manawatu and Horowhenua.
A complaint was laid with the police in May 2017 after financial irregularities were first revealed at the trust the year before.
Te Atiawa hapū Ngāti te Whiti had been planning to build a $4.5 million marae at Ngamotu Beach, but those plans have now been put on hold.
