A former Auckland funeral director charged with misconduct in respect of human remains at an Auckland cemetery will keep her name secret for now.
The woman was flanked by three family members before she made her first appearance in the Auckland District Court today.
The undertaker has also been charged with nine counts of obtaining by deception amounting to $15,002.
The 48-year-old was arrested on Tuesday following a nearly three-month police investigation into concerns around burials at Waikumete Cemetery in Glen Eden.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin on Wednesday called the arrest a significant development in the ongoing investigation.
“We cannot rule out further charges and hope this arrest brings some reassurance to those affected by this woman’s offending.”
The woman’s lawyer, Panama Le’Au’Anae, sought interim name suppression for his client, telling the court she is living with a mood disorder and is seeing a psychiatrist.
The interim name suppression was granted, and the woman has been remanded on bail without plea.
She will reappear in court on November 15.
