A former funeral director charged with misconduct in respect of human remains over burials at an Auckland cemetery can now be named as Fiona Bakulich.
The former Tipene Funerals undertaker has also been charged with nine counts of obtaining by deception amounting to $15,002.
Bakulich was arrested last week following a multi-month police investigation into “concerns around burials at Waikumete Cemetery” in Glen Eden.
The 48-year-old appeared on the reality series The Casketeers, which has previously been broadcast by TVNZ.
Bakuliuch was flanked by three family members before she made her first appearance in court on Friday, where she was remanded on bail without plea.
The woman’s lawyer, Panama Le’Au’Anae, had earlier sought interim name suppression for his client, telling the court she was living with a mood disorder and seeing a psychiatrist.
Last week, Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin called the arrest a “significant development” in the ongoing investigation.
“The woman was arrested in Favona and has since been charged with misconduct in respect of human remains and nine counts of obtaining by deception,” he said.
“We cannot rule out further charges and hope this arrest brings some reassurance to those affected by this woman’s [alleged] offending.”
Bakulich was set to reappear in court on November 15.
