A Christchurch man has been banned from running a business for life after breaching restrictions imposed on him while bankrupt.
In 2010, Michael Le Roy was first adjudicated bankrupt after his waste disposal business went into liquidation.
According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Le Roy then abandoned 500 tonnes of rubbish on a lifestyle block he was leasing – which cost the landowner $45,000 to remove.
Le Roy was adjudicated bankrupt for a second time in 2018, but continued to manage companies.
He was later subject to charges filed by MBIE and the Inland Revenue Commissioner in 2020.
In 2022, Le Roy was sentenced to three years imprisonment for forging documents, misleading an official signee, unpaid tax deductions for three separate companies of nearly $60,000, and taking part in the management of companies while bankrupt – which MBIE said was at least the second time he had done so.
On April 29, 2025, the Christchurch High Court ordered Le Roy be permanently prohibited from being a director or promoter of, or in any way directly or indirectly, taking part in the management of a company under the Companies Act 1993.
MBIE business registries investigations and compliance team manager Vanessa Cook said Le Roy is one of a handful of serious offenders who have been banned for life from being a director of a business.
“There is good reason for Mr Le Roy to be permanently prohibited from being involved in managing any company under section 383 of the Companies Act based on his previous convictions and the serious risk of financial harm to the public should he be allowed to carry on business activities in the future,” Cook said.
“Mr Le Roy’s conduct to date is amongst the most serious of cases of this type.”
At the sentencing, Judge R. E Neave noted the significant amount of loss which resulted from Le Roy’s offending.
“Considerable havoc has been left in your wake,” Judge Neave said.
“You ignored warnings both from MBIE and the Inland Revenue. You of course have the previous history of bankruptcy, so you knew what your obligations were, and you knew you were flagrantly in breach of those obligations.”
In a statement, MBIE said the prohibitions in the Companies Act 1993, are imposed to protect the public from individuals who have been unscrupulous, incompetent, or irresponsible in how they have carried on business.
