By Angela Beswick
An Auckland businessman fighting to keep his name under wraps may be fighting an uphill battle after being identified by prominent blogger Whaleoil.
Whaleoil, real name Cameron Slater, was in Auckland District Court on Tuesday facing another four charges of breaching court-imposed suppression orders.
The man, who owns a restaurant in Auckland, appeared before the court to face three charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office that he obtained money by deception in relation to a $3 million fraud.
Slater subsequently identified the man on his blog. He currently faces nine suppression-related charges.
He says he will continue to publish names on his blog which he says were "interesting" and expects more charges to follow.
"If I am guilty of those then Telecom is guilty of publishing the White Pages," he said of the most recent charges, which he claims have "no merit".
Each carry a maximum penalty of a $1000 fine.
The man's name has been published before, and a continued suppression order was opposed by the New Zealand Herald. His lawyer told Judge Christopher Field that defamation had already occurred.
The man has been remanded until April 13 for the suppression argument to continue.
Slater has been remanded until August for a defended hearing.
He says his defence would be based on freedom of speech issues and the need for openness in a democracy.
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