CEO Jayson Herewini Faces Trial Over $1.53 Million Money Laundering Scheme
Whanganui executive claims he was deceived by an online contact posing as a lawyer.
1Court Trial Commences
Jayson Alexander Herewini, a 55-year-old chief executive, is currently standing trial at the Whanganui District Court. He faces eight representative money laundering charges involving over $1.53 million in losses. The prosecution alleges these funds were linked to eight separate investment scam victims who were deceived by international criminals posing as portfolio managers.
2The Online Deception
Herewini claims he was duped by a man named Alex Sullivan, whom he met via LinkedIn and Zoom. Sullivan allegedly provided an escrow agreement, which Herewini believed was legitimate. The executive testified that he sought advice from a local legal office, where an adviser reportedly found no red flags regarding the arrangement.
3Financial Transaction Mechanism
The scheme involved receiving large deposits into Herewini’s company account, Tech Global, before transferring them to offshore accounts in Singapore and Europe. Herewini retained a commission fee of 3% to 5%, with potential bonuses up to 8%. Prosecutors suggest he earned at least $121,413 in commissions throughout the duration of the activity.
4Escalation of Suspicious Activity
After his initial bank account was frozen due to an investigation, Herewini opened a new account with TSB to continue receiving payments. Before the first $300,000 deposit arrived in November 2022, his account balance was only 32 cents. He maintains he believed the transactions were compliant with the provided escrow agreement terms.
5Prosecution Challenges Credibility
Crown prosecutor Jo Woodcock challenged Herewini’s narrative, highlighting the absurdity of a British lawyer needing a Whanganui resident to distribute funds. Woodcock confronted him with previous statements made to the media, where he allegedly provided conflicting details regarding commission rates and cooling-off periods, suggesting he was aware of the criminal nature.
6Alleged Evidence Destruction
Herewini claimed that after being charged in 2023, he returned to the community legal office to request documentation of their initial meeting. He alleged that the adviser drafted a letter confirming she saw no risks, but then shredded the document and altered the wording after consulting with her partner at the firm.
7Victim Impact and Defense
The victims were lured through fake term deposit websites and convinced to deposit funds into accounts controlled by Herewini. While Herewini apologized to the victims, calling the situation cruel, he insists his state of mind was innocent. He argues that he was a victim of the same deception as those who lost money.
8Legal Stakes and Conclusion
The trial concluded after Herewini declined to call further witnesses to testify on his behalf. If convicted of the eight money laundering charges, the former soldier faces a potential prison sentence of up to seven years. The court must now determine if he knowingly facilitated the laundering of criminal proceeds.