Back in January 2025 this site reported on the outcome of a defamation case against a CAANZ registered member, Jasmine Cai of Auckland.
Ms Cai was found to have defamed Auckland businessman and car dealer, John Murphy.
Murphy was self represented with Marc Spring assisting as “Mckenzie Friend”.
Ms Cai was represented by Auckland Barrister, Paul Hunter.
The case stemmed from defamatory, disparaging, and deliberately malicious false allegations made by Ms Cai on Facebook about Mr Murphy, and his motor vehicle business.
We wont repeat the defamatory statements.
Now Ms Cai is subject to further costs by way of a $1000.00 fine for her conduct whilst practising as a Chartered Accountant here in NZ.
In the recently released judgement that has been brought to our attention, CAANZ, through it’s own Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) considered an “own motion” when they became aware of the story we published on 15th January, 2025.
The PCC own motion complaint concerned a finding that had been made in the High Court in Murphy v Cai [2024] NZHC 1242, that the Member (Jasmine Cai) was liable to the plaintiff in defamation, and that the High Court had ordered her to pay damages to the plaintiff of $20,000.00, and by way of a separate judgement, costs of $9,815.00
The PCC said in its published ruling that it was “troubled by the High Courts finding”, and that “this was an adverse and unfavourable finding that brought discredit to the profession”.
The PCC, having all the relevant information before it, “considered a censure was an appropriate and proportionate response to the breach of the Code of Ethics identified”.
We have asked Barrister Paul Hunter for further comment, and at the time of publication we have had no response.
In the meantime our investigation continues into why CAANZ felt it appropriate to not provide the plaintiff, Mr Murphy, the opportunity to reply to Ms Cai’s submission to CAANZ that was made to the PCC via her legal representative.
