The penalty hearing for the first and second defendants in the Oceania Natural Limited (ONL) proceeding brought by the Financial Markets
Authority – Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko – was heard at the High Court in Auckland last Thursday, 13 July.
Previously, on 6 April 2023, the Court found Wei Zhong and Lei Ding had breached the market manipulation and disclosure
provisions under sections 265 and 297 of the Financial Markets Conduct Act (FMCA): Mr Zhong had six market manipulation
contraventions and three disclosure contraventions; Ms Ding had six market manipulation contraventions and five
disclosure contraventions.
Wei (Walker) Zhong was the Executive Chairman and CEO of Oceania Natural Limited; Lei (Regina) Ding, was a senior
manager and marketing director of Oceania Natural Limited.
The Court issued a results decision with reasons to follow.The Judge ordered a penalty of $1.33m for Mr Zhong and
$760,000 for Ms Ding.
These are the highest penalties imposed to date for contraventions of the market manipulation and disclosure provisions
in the FMCA.
The Judge has reserved his full decision for later publication. The FMA will make final comment on the proceedings when
that judgment is released.
Notes
Case history for the Oceania Natural market manipulation case.
ONL entered liquidation on 18 June 2018 and was delisted from the NXT on 29 June 2018.