Former politician and property tycoon Sir Robert Jones is suing Kāpiti Coast investment adviser Chris Lee for defamation.
Justice Denis Clifford today told the High Court at Wellington the alleged defamation involved the company Sir Robert Jones Investments Ltd.
The company was de-listed from the stock exchange in 2007 after it was taken over and re-named Trans-Tasman Properties.
A jury was selected and the trial will began today.
Mr Lee certainly has his share of detractors if comments on the National Business Review’s site today are typical. These include; “Lee has made a brand of appearing to be a white knight for old investors but in reality he had people in Prov.Finance, B/Corp, Hanover and lately has gone from champion to hyper-critic of South Cant Fin. after investing milllions of client funds.
hope bobby .j. wipes him off the map…..the guy’s a flake…oops, how defamatory of me..yeah right!” Chrystal B.
And this comment from Shadbolt; “Lee had a ‘clever’ side – disparaging, rude and spiteful remarks under the guise of informed comment.
“But we all know people in glass houses should be sure they know where the stones are kept.
“We now know how ill-informed his support was for Strategic, St Laurence, Hanover and many, many more. He once offered to repay his investors in Provincial their losses. Did he ever make good that promise? And will he put his money where his loudmouth is and also cover those listed above? Go Bob, and sort him out.”
On the plus side for Mr Lee a person calling himself Strangeway Magee says “Chris Lee is a man above reproach AN HONEST MAN,ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN NZ WHO CAN LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND KNOW HE DEALS OFF THE TOP OF THE DECK he is a good man.”