One of New Zealand’s leading arts and film philanthropists, Sir James Wallace, can now be revealed as the rich-lister convicted of indecently assaulting three men and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The Government has also begun the process of stripping Wallace of his knighthood, while Auckland Council said it will continue to house the numerous artworks of a trust associated with Wallace at the Pah Homestead.
Referred to for the past five years in Herald stories as a prominent businessman, Wallace, who had an estimated net worth of about $170 million, was accused and found guilty of assaulting his victims in the early 2000s, 2008 and 2016.
All three men were assaulted under the guise of career opportunities at Wallace’s four-storey mansion in Epsom, which he calls Rannoch, a home filled with millions of dollars worth of art and surrounded by lush gardens.
He was also charged with twice attempting to pervert the course of justice by offering a bribe for the 2016 complainant – the first of the three to go to police – to drop their allegations.
Yesterday, the 85-year-old’s suppression order, which has been constantly opposed by the Herald and Stuff, lapsed with a Supreme Court judgment.
NZ Herald
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