Two brothers have indicated they'll plead not guilty to defrauding people in a roof-fixing scam.
The men, aged 27 and 30, appeared in Auckland District Court on Thursday, each facing two charges of obtaining ownership of property by deception and without claim of right.
Police began investigating an alleged roof scam after several people reported being tricked out of money in exchange for repair jobs that never got done.
An 82-year-old woman told Newshub a group of men offered to fix a hole in her roof before taking off with $8800 in early January.
One of the alleged offences saw the perpetrators scam a victim out of $18,800, while the second saw them net $5000. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment.
The defendants, who are tourists from the UK, indicated they will enter not guilty pleas and elected for a jury trial.
Their application for name suppression was rejected by the judge, but their lawyer appealed so they cannot be named.
They will be remanded in custody in Whanganui until their next court appearance on April 17.
Newshub.
