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Ashburton Guardian Thursday, August 19, 2021
Former Cera employees on trial in Christchurch High Court NZ Herald The trial of two former Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority employees with strong Ashburton links charged over an alleged fraud involving a government-funded waste-to-energy plant on the West Coast began on Monday. Gerard Anthony Gallagher, 62, and Simon Carl Nikoloff, 57, were both working for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera) in 2017 when they were the subject of an investigation by the State Services Commission (SSC) into alleged private property deals. The SCC referred the pair to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as a result and they were later charged. Gallagher was the general manager of Enterprise Ashburton (which became Grow Mid Canterbury) for three years, before he established Gallagher and Associates, worked as the Ashburton Guardian’s general manager, established the Success Academy and was chief executive for Laser Plumbing and Electrical. Nikoloff also has Ashburton’s links through his work as a business advisor with Grow Mid Canterbury, a position he held for about three years. The pair are facing a range of
Former Cera employees Gerard Gallagher and Simon Nikoloff on trial in the High Court Christchurch. allegations including using and disclosing information gained in their official position at Cera to gain indirectly or directly a commercial advancement for their
private company Project and Management Ltd. Both have pleaded not guilty to charges brought under the Crimes Act of corrupt use of offi-
PHOTO GEORGE HEARD/NZ HERALD
cial information. Nikoloff is facing two charges of corrupt use of official information and Gallagher faces three. The pair are also facing two
charges of attempted corrupt use of official information each. The jury trial in the High Court in Christchurch is expected to last for four weeks.
Todd wants to surprise his parents with a medal Malcolm Hopwood Paralympic Mike Todd wants to bring a medal back in time for his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Todd, a Wheel Black, has been in Christchurch undergoing Covid-19 tests this week before he joins the New Zealand Paralympic team which will leave for Japan today.
“We’re not competing to make up numbers,” Todd said. “We’re there to challenge and put down a marker for the Paris Olympics in three years’ time.” The New Zealand team plays its first game against world champions, USA, on August 25 and is assured of four games before the semi-finals and finals. The ultimate goal for Todd, who plays a defensive role for the Wheel Blacks, is to win a medal and bring it back in time for Tony and Christine’s 50th anniversary in Ashburton on September 18.
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Paralympic officials, medical team and media have already left for Tokyo and the Olympic village with the 64 athletes and support staff departing today. Todd feels fine and is raring to go. “My shoulder is a lot better, I’m confident in my body and I’m feeling really good,” he said. The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be held from August 24 to September 5, and will include 22 para sports on the event schedule and up to 4400 paralympians competing.
Ashburton Wheel Black Mike Todd.
PHOTO MALCOLM HOPWOOD
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