The Serious Fraud Office says Dunedin businessman Barry Edward Kloogh, 57, has appeared in the Dunedin District Court to face charges it has brought.

Mr Kloogh entered no plea to representative charges of 'False accounting’ (section 260 Crimes Act 1961), ‘False statement by promoters’ (section 242 Crimes Act), ‘Theft by person in special relationship’ (section 220 Crimes Act) and ‘Obtaining by deception’ (section 240 Crimes Act). He also faces individual charges of ‘Forgery’ (section 256 Crimes Act), ‘Theft by person in special relationship’ and ‘Obtaining by deception’.

He was remanded without plea to reappear in the Dunedin District Court on 17 March.

The SFO says Mr Kloogh provided his financial advisory services through several companies of which he was the sole director and shareholder. He had approximately 2000 active clients in May 2019.

It says Mr Kloogh started his financial services career in 1983.

"He has provided financial advisory services through several companies of which he was the sole director and shareholder, including Financial Planning Limited (which traded as Breathe Financial), Breathe Financial Ltd and Impact Enterprises Ltd.

"His business principally consisted of advising clients about making investments, reducing debt and obtaining insurance policies."