The trial of a prominent New Zealander accused of indecently assaulting two men will now be held in the high court.
The High Court in Auckland Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The high-profile businessman, who has interim name suppression, is accused of groping two men and then trying to bribe one into silence.
He stood trial with two other men, accused of trying to shut down the sexual assault allegations, in the Auckland District Court in March.
As the trial entered its third week Judge Russell Collins declared a mistrial and aborted it - for reasons that can not be reported.
This morning the three men appeared before Justice Moore in the High Court at Auckland, who ordered a trial in the High Court.
Further details of the hearing were suppressed.
The high-profile New Zealander is accused of indecently assaulting two men, one in February 2008 and another in October 2016.
He pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecent assault and two charges of attempting to dissuade a witness.
His associates, who also have name suppression, pleaded not guilty to one and three charges of attempting to dissuade a witness respectively.
Judge Collins declined to grant name suppression for all three defendants in the District Court but their identities remain a secret on appeal.
The trio will stand trial in the High Court in June next year.