Part of the ‘sovereign citizen’ movement, Russell Ward failed in his claim that bankruptcy rules do not apply to him.
Mr Ward was in court alleging aircraft frames now under control of Tom Andrews at Classics Car Museum had been stolen from his Waikato farm at Whatawhata, near Hamilton.
Mr Ward was bankrupted in 2021 and remains bankrupt until 2027 because of his delay in providing a statement of financial affairs to Insolvency Service.
Whilst bankrupt, he filed papers on the Personal Property Securities Register claiming rights to the aircraft frames.
Insolvency Service intervened.
As a sovereign citizen, Mr Ward stated he was ‘immune from prosecution’ and that he had never signed any contract giving a court jurisdiction over him. The Russell Ward who is bankrupt is a different persona from himself as a sovereign citizen, he claimed.
Justice Harvey struck out his claim to the aircraft frames.
On bankruptcy, rights over Mr Ward’s assets came under sole control of Insolvency Service.
Ward v. Andrews – High Court (3.07.26)
26.198