Hubbard Support Team Writes To MPs

Press statement - a letter to Parliament.

Dear Sir / Madam,

We wish to draw your attention to violations of civil, human, and legal rights occurring as a result of the investigations surrounding Allan Hubbard of Timaru and the refusal of Grant Thornton statutory manager's to pay Mr Hubbard's lawyers in order for Mr Hubbard to be assured of legal recourse given the situation he has been placed in by the government.

On Wednesday 8th December 2010, head of the SFO Adam Feeley announced to the media the intention of the SFO to arrest someone the following day, who was involved in a Ponzi scheme.

This sent some of the media into a frenzy.

On the morning of Thursday 9th December, Mr Hubbard left his home at 5.30 am to drive to Christchurch. There were reporters with cameras waiting outside his house.

On the same day, the Timaru Herald published two articles about Allan Hubbard. One suggested that his supporters had suffered a nervous night, waiting for his arrest. The other article speculated about whether or not Allan Hubbard was the person about to be arrested by the SFO, and showed Allan Hubbard's photo.

The Christchurch Press published an article on the front page that day too, showing Allan Hubbard's photo, and speculating about whether or not he would be arrested.

Naturally, Mr Hubbard was deeply upset when he became aware of the articles concerned.

We note that the Christchurch Press in particular, as well as the media in general, has consistently presented an overwhelming bias against Mr Hubbard since reporting on the statutory management and SFO investigation(s) in relation to him, failing to portray this situation in a balanced way.

The Christchurch Press has published numerous half-page articles, effectively condemning him, written by an 'anonymous' financial commentator.

Most media organisations have deemed it incumbent upon Mr Hubbard and/or his supporters to prove his innocence of the accusations made against him, in public.

While we are aware that Mr Feeley of the SFO has contacted Mr Hubbard's lawyers and Grant Thornton statutory managers to apologise for the consequences of his actions, we would also like the appropriate Minister to remind Mr Feeley that it is inconsistent to say "I don't conduct investigations in the media" and then do precisely that.

Furthermore, publishing of the articles concerned was not only a breeding ground for speculation, but also defamatory.

We note that media speculation and public prosecution has been the most consistent result of all of the current investigations into Allan Hubbard so far, and that the speculation invariably surrounds the very public trial Mr Hubbard has been enduring since 20th June 2010.

As we have previously shown you, some people are calling for him to be jailed.

He is 82 years old.

The statutory managers appointed in his case are paying themselves from investors funds, but they are not paying Mr Hubbard's lawyers.

We urge Minister Simon Power to show greater consideration than he has thus far shown for the rights of Allan and Margaret Hubbard and their investors, who are caught up in this through no fault of their own.

The media trial they and the Hubbards have endured is undeniable, without a conclusion.

Natural justice is most certainly not occurring in the case of the Hubbard's and their investors.

Far from it.

It is also completely illogical for Adam Feeley to suggest that the actions of the SFO are calculated to give investors confidence and then proceed to demoralise them further, beyond the damage he has already caused because of his ongoing fascination with the media.

We therefore urge Minister Simon Power to ensure that any infringement of the Hubbards' rights, and the rights of their investors, is rectified immediately.

To be clear, we mean human rights, civil rights, and legal rights, it would appear that they are all being breached in one way or another.

Sincerely,

We, the undersigned investors, and supporters of Allan and Margaret Hubbard of Timaru.

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