Second person pleads not guilty in Auckland burial scam

A second person has been charged in a funeral burial scandal related to Tipene Funerals. This individual appeared in Auckland District Court and has chosen to keep his identity secret for now. The man faces charges of interfering with human remains and deception. These charges come after former undertaker Fiona Bakulich admitted to cheating grieving families in a burial scam. Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin stated that investigations into the burials at Waikumete Cemetery are still ongoing. The 53-year-old man is accused of unlawfully obtaining over $18,000. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested a trial by jury. He has been granted interim name suppression. Media reporting on this case is also restricted from revealing the man's occupation or any other identifying information.