Rajesh Chimanlal Upadhyaya was standing trial on a number of offences after he allegedly issued more than a hundred false invoices while he was a director of Emirates Park horse stud near Murrurundi.

Upadhyaya has pleaded not guilty to all 14 charges and had been less than a fortnight into the trial in the Downing Centre District Court when it was aborted after the defence counsel was unable to continue due to illness.

At the opening address earlier this month, the court heard the accused was responsible for ordering hay and oats to feed the foals and yearlings at Emirates Park between 2005 and 2010.

The Crown maintains Upadhyaya allegedly had a controlling interest in two horse feed companies, namely Tamworth Quality Grains and Feedpoint, which supplied the stud farm. The Crown alleges he charged Emirates Park for tens of thousands of tonnes of oats and hay which was supposed to be provided by the feed companies.

The court heard this feed was allegedly up to 10 times more than the horses on the stud could eat or what was provided.

The trial will not recommence until a new defence counsel is briefed.