Two construction companies will face penalties in New Zealand’s first prosecution for cartel conduct under laws introduced in 2021.
A company whose name is suppressed has admitted colluding with contractor Munesh (Max) Kumar and his company, MaxBuild Ltd.
Kumar admitted the charges in December last year and was sentenced to six months of community detention and 200 hours of community work. MaxBuild was fined $500,000.
Both companies and their directors were initially charged, but in the High Court at Auckland this week, charges against one director were withdrawn, while the company entered guilty pleas.
Lawyer Sam Lowery, acting for the company and its director, said permanent name suppression would be sought at sentencing in October….