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The calls intercepted between alleged drug traffickers, a lawyer and the president of the Comancheros Motorcyle Club have been played by jury.
The money and drug laundering trial against Pasilika Naufahu, Connor Michael Tamati Clausen, accountant Wiwini Himi Hakaraia, a media personality who has name suppression, and a woman also with name suppression, began Monday in the High Court. from Auckland.
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, luxury luggage and jewelry.
On Monday, Crown Prosecutor David Johnstone said a man accused along with Naufahu and Clausen of conspiring to import drugs will testify at trial.
READ MORE:
* Comanchero trial: media personality led company to ‘disguise crime’ – Crown
* Comanchero trial: ‘Secrets and pretenses’ used to disguise the offense, says Crown
* Senior Comanchero Member Admits Drug and Money Laundering Charges
* Lawyer admits money laundering allegedly linked to Club de Motociclistas Comancheros
The man, whom the jury has heard is at the “heart of the case,” has admitted the charges and was also the cash handler, depositing money in various bank accounts.
RICKY WILSON / THINGS
Wiwini Hakaraia and Connor Clausen have denied the charges against them.
On Wednesday, Detective Sgt. Damian Espinosa detailed police observations of Naufahu and the man who met in March 2018 at a park in Bucklands Beach.
Espinosa said the couple were seen sitting on the grass, but threw cell phones aside at the start of the meeting.
The intercepted phone calls were also relayed to the jury between the man and his associates in Fiji.
Most calls are made in Fijian.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Andrew Simpson was jailed for helping comancheros in money laundering.
Intercepted phone calls were also heard from the man and attorney Andrew Simpson, who was jailed for laundering $ 2.2 million for the gang.
In court Wednesday, in a call, the man and Simpson could be heard arguing about what the Crown says are “drops of money” in bank accounts.
NZ POLICE
Police observed Pasilika Naufahu driving a white Range Rover to meet a man.
Police observed the man when he visited various banks in Auckland.
Call the lawyer to tell him that “Kiwi” wants to buy another car with money from a trust.
On another call, the man calls Simpson to follow up on a problem with money in an account.
“I’ve been busier with real legal work than chasing these guys,” Simpson says.
An intercepted call between the man and the woman prosecuted for money laundering was played in court.
“Honey, I need a big favor, I’m going to pick you up and we’ll go to the bank together … Please, I need your help. Bring your ID, “says the man.
The woman responds: “Tell me what to do.”
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Various amounts of money were deposited in Auckland banks.
Police observed the couple entering various Auckland banks, Espinosa said.
That same day, the man returned the phone to Simpson and told him that they had deposited “47” between two of them.
Further intercepted communication between the man and a Fiji-based drug dealer revealed that the couple discussed setting up the business for cassava. The Crown says that cassava was a code name for drugs.
“Because you are the source of the yucca. The farm, ”the man is heard saying.
He talks about giving the man a “green light”, however the man seems frustrated due to the delays.
“I’ve talked to him, him, the president of the market here, you know what I mean?”
“But I suggest that your brother or someone when he returns meet me on the ground, because if not I will go somewhere else,” replies the drug dealer.
RICKY WILSON / THINGS
Pasilika Naufahu can be heard on intercepted calls talking about creating a “team.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the court heard an intercepted call between Naufahu and an unknown man, where the president can be heard talking to the man about “opening up” in New Zealand.
“Brother, we also have a good name here brother… I have a small team. Nobody doesn’t want to get close to us … “
“Oh, I have a f …… heavy equipment from New Zealand here, bro … compact equipment, just a brother full of cars, that’s all I need.”
CONTROL POINT / RNZ
A court heard that a Comanchero associate drove through Auckland with a million dollars in cash to buy a methamphetamine precursor, before the deal fell through.
THE CHARGES
Naufahu has denied conspiring to import a class A drug, conspiring to supply class B pseudoephedrine and three counts of money laundering.
Clausen is accused of conspiring to supply pseudoephedrine, a class B drug
The media personality is charged with participating in an organized criminal group and two counts of money laundering.
Hakaraia has denied participating in an organized criminal group; two counts of possession of a class A drug for supply, namely cocaine and methamphetamine; and three charges for money laundering.
The woman has also denied having participated in a money laundering transaction.
The trial lasts for four weeks before a jury and Judge Graham Lang.
