Alleging that Ross Meurant had emptied their company bank account without authority, trustees of a family trust had a High Court freezing order placed on an Auckland property owned by Mr Meurant and his wife.
Alexey Potter and Egor Petrenko alleged in the High Court that Mr Meurant and entities associated with him had been charging excessive management fees to their company River Oaks Mews Ltd. They claimed he had breached duties as a director when taking some $1.6 million from company bank accounts. The amount owed as management fees is disputed. Following a River Oak audit, Mr Meurant was told to provide evidence supporting fees claimed, or complaints of theft would be laid with police. It is alleged at least $736,000 was taken in excess of fees legitimately charged.
River Oaks asked the High Court to impose a freezing order over a Meurant property in the Auckland suburb of St Johns after learning it was on the market. It was alleged Mr Meurant was cashing up with the risk proceeds would be salted away out of River Oak’s reach.
Justice Jagose imposed a time-limited freezing order. Any sale was blocked for one week, with the freezing order to then be reviewed. Mr Meurant had no warning that River Oaks had applied for a freezing order.
Companies Office records show Mr Meurant resigned as director on the day scheduled for court review of the freezing order.
River Oaks Mews Ltd v. Meurant – High Court (23.05.23)
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