Former University of Otago Employee Pleads Not Guilty to 36 Charges

A former University of Otago employee pleaded not guilty to 36 charges at Dunedin District Court on Tuesday, 10 November. The man, who is in his 40s, elected trial by jury after his lawyer entered the pleas before Judge David Robinson. The alleged offending spans 2016 to 2025. The charges include dishonestly accessing the university's computer system, theft by a person in a special relationship, and dishonestly using a document. A newly laid deception charge alleges that he acted jointly with another person and caused the university a loss of NZ$190,000. That other person also has interim name suppression. Other allegations concern the theft of desktop computers, scaffolding equipment and ladders. The former employee's interim name suppression remains in place. Judge Robinson said the suppression issue would be reconsidered at his next court appearance in January 2027.