[ad_1]
RICKY WILSON / THINGS
Wiwini Himi Hakaraia has been released on his money laundering charges. Connor Michael Tamati Clausen denies his position.
A media personality and an accountant accused of money laundering on behalf of the Comancheros gang were dismissed for lack of evidence.
The trial, which involves money and drug laundering charges against Comanchero president Pasilika Naufahu, Connor Michael Tamati Clausen, accountant Wiwini Himi Hakaraia, a media personality who has name suppression, and a woman also with suppression of name, he is in his fourth week in Auckland High Court. .
All five were arrested following a series of raids in Auckland in April 2019 in which more than $ 3.7 million in assets were seized along with luxury cars, motorcycles, high-end luggage and jewelry.
RICKY WILSON / THINGS
Pasilika Naufahu denies the drug charges against him.
On Thursday, the media personality, who was originally charged with participating in an organized crime group and two counts of money laundering, was formally released by Judge Graham Lang.
READ MORE:
* Comanchero Trial: Jury Observes Microphone Meeting Over Alleged Million Dollar Drug Deal
* Comanchero trial: ‘This is the largest gang in New Zealand,’ says alleged drug trafficker
* Comanchero trial: ‘Great explosion of cash deposits’ in the accounts of the accused
* Comanchero trial: Witness at the ‘heart of the case’ accused of lying by the president’s lawyer
* Comanchero trial listens to drug trafficker in the ‘heart of the case’ feared for his life
* Comanchero Trial: Intercepted calls between attorney and cash handler played to court
* Comanchero trial: media personality led company to ‘disguise crime’ – Crown
* Comanchero trial: ‘Secrets and pretenses’ used to disguise the offense, says Crown
Hakaraia also had three counts of money laundering and one count of participation in an organized criminal group dropped.
However, on Thursday, Hakaraia admitted two counts of possession of a class A drug, cocaine.
The court heard that 27.6 grams of cocaine was inside a Nike shoe along with 18.2 grams of powder containing cocaine and methamphetamine.
Judge Lang convicted Hakaraia and released him on bail for sentencing at a later date.
Naufahu has been charged with conspiring to supply pseudoephedrine, a class B drug, and two counts of money laundering.
On Thursday, he was also charged with conspiring to import a class A drug and a money laundering charge was dropped.
Clausen is charged with conspiring to supply pseudoephedrine, a class B drug.
The woman has also denied having participated in a money laundering transaction.
Judge Lang told the jury that the evidence against the defendants for the charges that were dismissed was insufficient.
The trial continues in front of Judge Lang.
