NZ IRD make a spectacle of Terry Serepisos
Serepisos arrested at airport:
Bankrupt property developer Terry Serepisos says he is “flabbergasted” after being arrested at the airport over a few thousand dollars in unpaid child support.
The former Phoenix football club owner appeared in Family Court in Wellington this morning after he was detained at Wellington Airport by police on his return from several months in Greece last night.
Speaking outside court today, Serepisos said the arrest appeared to relate to unpaid child support for his 19-year-old son, who has been living with him for the past five years.
“But he is not a little child, he is a grown-up man.”
He said the details were still unclear but he did not believe he owed the “few thousand” in child support claimed by Inland Revenue.
He said authorities had approved his travel overseas to deal with family matters and had made no attempt to contact him while he was in Greece. He was not facing any criminal charges.
“I didn’t even know there was a warrant or anything out there to turn up at court.
“I was quite flabbergasted when I turned up at the airport and suddenly I am arrested.”
Related posts: Child Support 101
Related posts: Child Support 102
Related posts: Child Support 103
In an updated version of the above report:
The Official Assignee, which administers bankruptcies, has filed papers in the High Court in Wellington objecting to the automatic discharging of Serepisos from bankruptcy next month, a spokesman said in a statement.
In a secret court somewhere in Wellington a decision is being made, not just about Serepisos, but about New Zealand males.
Why was Serepisos arrested?
I am going to assume it was to ensure his presence in court to legitimise the decision the IRD are seeking. (He has a right to be at a hearing that is about him)
OK the story gave me the impression he owed them millions in tax from dodgy property dealings but this is way more important. A few thousand in child support? Hanging’s too good for the scoundrel and he has the nerve to say that looking after his son for 5 years somehow counts in his favour.
How ridiculous, just proves how vindictive the gestapo really are. All I can say is Terry good luck and if you can beat the bastards you will have done a big favour for a lot of men out there!
Comment by Daniel — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 3:49 pm
I don’t think he has any idea what is going on and it probably doesn’t matter to him.
The question is what precedent are the IRD after?
Comment by Downunder — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 3:54 pm
This is how IRD works. Arrest at the border. I suspect its very common, we just dont hear about it.All Child Tax payers need to understand IRD is the revenue collecting arm of government, they only care about collection and compliance. There is no fairness, just a bunch of taxman with excessive powers that exist solely to collect money.
Regards
Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 5:11 pm
@Scrap Any chance of tracking down Terry and finding out a bit more?
Comment by Downunder — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 5:15 pm
Downunder,
A good suggestion.if I was in better health I would but my prime focus now is delaying my parkinsons disease, keeping working and family. Im not up to my escapades like the old days.I still follow MENZ but only as a reader these days.
Regards
Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 5:35 pm
I suspect we can all rest assured that Terry S was only arrested because …. he was a marked man. IRD had it in for him over other financial dealings, and lo! here was a perfect opportunity!
I don’t trust Terry – ‘a few thousand’ could easily be 10, 20 or even much mush more thousand. As a (ex)millionaire, he would have been up for $20,000+ pa for one child, and upwards from there for two or more.
But I agree – this is the noose that IRD hold over all of us CS-tax-payers: and it might not take ‘thousands’. Do not believe for a minute that IRD will show compassion. If they gun for you, you’re a marked man and will not escape them.
Comment by OMG! Youo're *$%&^)&(* — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 5:55 pm
This echoes my post ‘IRD’s Genocide or Separated Fathers’
http://menz.org.nz/2014/irds-genocide-of-fathers/
Furthermore”¦”¦. If I went to the Police and said this guy owes me money would the Police arrest that person and take them to court? Why is it the Government can do it for the people they suspect owes them money but anyone else can’t?
Comment by Lukenz — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 6:00 pm
@Scrap Thanks for the reply – sorry to hear you’re not so well.
If you do come across any leads or contacts, send them my way. [email protected] and I will try to follow him up.
Comment by Downunder — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 6:03 pm
@Lukenz
The IRD have gone to the court and obtained an arrest warrant.
It’s a court order and the Police have not option but to execute it.
You’re right, it’s a continuation of the discussion we started in your post.
Comment by Downunder — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 6:07 pm
I am with Daniel
The other interesting spin on this story is he was cleared by authorities including the Ministry of Justice (Official Asignee) to travel to Greece then gets arrested on coming back into NZ. Rather different spin than those adverts about payment of fines.
I will see what I can do in shaking a few bushes to flush out a bird or two during the school holidays. Regards to Scrap, maybe we can do coffee sometime soon.
Comment by Allan Harvey — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 7:34 pm
Punishment for the biggest sin of all…….conflict with the largest misandric govt department in the western world.
Comment by triassic — Tue 23rd September 2014 @ 10:55 pm
IRD Child Support Manukau- Bunch of men hating bitches, paid to stick the boot in by the government, you know who you are cxxts
Comment by Colin — Wed 24th September 2014 @ 9:21 am
That’s fkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkeeeeddd putting it nicely.
Comment by Dominic da Silva — Wed 24th September 2014 @ 9:25 am
Stuff update
Comment by Downunder — Wed 24th September 2014 @ 11:27 am
Wow had never thought of getting arrested going IN to NZ. Have been arrested and held for 6 weeks trying to leave NZ until the court case where they said it was unreasonable.
They can do pretty much anything they want. Include inventing ridiculous amounts of “debt” to obtain arrest warrants. They can keep you in prison until the first available court date when you get the chance to seek bail. This could be over 65 hours if say you were arrested on a Friday afternoon. If you have any doubt at all about your position you should be careful about the times you choose to fly. I have done over 20 nights in prison so far because of alleged protection order breaches and Child Support. I have never ever been convicted or found guilty of anything. I no longer have any contact of any kind with any of my 4 children
Comment by Michael Todd — Fri 26th September 2014 @ 7:58 pm