However, they still ruled the end sentence imposed was excessive and substituted the 10 years to one of nine years imprisonment. The brother of the Comanchero gang president has been jailed after moving to New Zealand to help his deported sibling. Everything went quiet until Rahman flew into Auckland International Airport on December 18, 2018, and checked into a hotel on Queen St, the Four Points by Sheraton. Most updated Motorcycle community news from all the World, Motorcycle Clubs news, 1%er news. You set up the trusts and lent respectability, as a lawyer, to a criminal organisation.". Jul 2019. We do not accept Mr Naufahu played anything other than a major and significant role in the conspiracy to supply pseudoephedrine.. "Mr Daniels spoke about his high-risk situations, how he will stay away from old associates and a pro-social future he plans," the Parole Board wrote in its July decision. The money laundering charge relates to his late-model Range Rover, worth around $150,000, while the organised crime charge carries the most significant penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The Comanchero members and associates were arrested in April 2019 after a massive police search. Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned! Earlier this year,lawyer Andrew Simpson and Danielswere jailed for their involvement. A trial involving laundering and drug charges against Comanchero president Pasilika Naufahu, Connor Michael Tamati Clausen, accountant Wiwini Himi Hakaraia, a media personality who has name He was also found guilty, alongside patched Comanchero Connor Clausen, of conspiring to supply the Class B drug pseudoephedrine in September 2018. Payments were also made by Hakaraia to Comanchero vice president Tyson Daniels to buy another new Range Rover. He had strong support from his wife and sister and had also completed Saili Matagi, a rehabilitation programme tailored for inmates of Pasifika heritage. Defence lawyer Ron Mansfield said Naufahu had been deported from Australia as a 501, arriving here with no support network in place. Board chairman Sir Ron Young said it was pointed out that Naufahu had the responsibility of caring for young children, and that appeared to conflict with the fact of his significant involvement in money laundering and conspiracy to supply drugs. Pasilika Naufahu is on trial for drug, money laundering and organised crime charges. Operation Nova was launched in late 2018 because police were concerned about the Comancheros' connections to international organised crime figures, and the gang's immediate impact - along with other Australian outlaw motorcycle clubs - on New Zealand's criminal underworld. The 501 scheme is the the character section of the Australian Migration Act that allows the cancellation of visas. Naufahu, who has a statutory release date of July 2028, would be seen again by the board before the end of December 2023. The house was purchased with Naufahus 7-year-old son listed as the owner. Earlier in the case the Crown said that company was used to pay "pretend" salaries to Comancheros members to conceal the true source of the gang's wealth. The Court of Appeal concluded those statements were admissible to prove Naufahu was participating in the conspiracy. Officers then observed the ute park up in Howick next to a white Range Rover. Im going to land it between you and me [Ill give you] all the f***en work you can handle. He was "surprised" to be deported given his imprisonment in Australia had been in short stints. If you are a copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of one or authorized to act under any exclusive right under copyright, please report alleged copyright infringements taking place on or through the site by completing the DMCA Notice of Alleged Infringement and delivering it to our Designated Copyright Agent. Naufahu - whose brother Pasilika is the president of the New Zealand chapter of the Australian motorcycle club - also pleaded guilty to possession of MDMA, or Ecstasy, which is a Class-B controlled drug. Available from December 2. More than 80 police officers were involved in the raids, which led to about $4 million of assets being seized, including firearms and several luxury vehicles such as a Rolls-Royce Wraith and gold-plated Harley-Davidson motorcycles. I've told you so many times, don't send me messages," the text read. The Comancheros gang was founded in Sydney in the 1960s and has been growing in size and influence in New Zealand in recent years. Of the dozens of intercepted calls using nicknames and codes played during the trial, none have involved the local Comancheros president until now. Naufahu was jailed for 10 years by Justice Graham Lang in February over his role in a sophisticated money laundering and drugs scheme. A lawyer was used to set up trusts for Naufahu and other group members. "You clearly knew that the money was derived from a significant drug importation and supply operation by the group of which you are a member," Justice van Bohemen told Daniels in February 2020. For Daniels alone, there were four Range Rovers with price tags of $175,000, $255,000, $218,000 and $280,000 a $200,000 Mercedes-Benz, a Lamborghini for $285,000, and two Rolls-Royces, which cost $364,000 and $595,000. Alleged Comancheros members accused of brazen Auckland attack keep names secret for now They have been jointly charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The police investigation was into the supply of controlled drugs from the New Zealand chapter of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club. Naufahu was arrested following a series of raids across Auckland in April 2019 in which more than $3.7 million in assets was seized, along with luxury cars, motorbikes, high-end luggage and jewellery. At the sentencing on Friday, Crown prosecutor David Johnstone said the defence had tried to unreasonably minimise Naufahus culpability as the leader of the criminal group. The offending was sophisticated, said Justice van Bohemen, with encrypted devices used to avoid detection by police. The call was made in Mexico and the caller was identified as Rahman; a Fijian-Indian who lived in Suva, who had dual Canadian citizenship and travelled regularly to Mexico and the United States. The money laundering charge relates to his late-model Range Rover, worth around $150,000, while the organised crime charge carries the most significant penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Simpson was reckless and brought the legal profession into disrepute, however, the judge was satisfied he was genuine in his remorse. 'I got hooked then and there': Conservationist in her 80s documents rare sea lion species, Race and erasure: Why the world's other humanitarian crises don't see the same response as Ukraine. You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Three days later, Rahman's son checked into the same hotel and was seen meeting with another man, a 19-year-old Mexican national, who also cannot be identified for legal reasons. Money was deposited at banks in amounts less than $10,000, in a bid to avoid triggering the banks reporting threshold, then funnelled through trust and company accounts to disguise their criminal origins. In total, 18 people were arrested, with lawyer Andrew Simpson and the gangs vice-president Tyson Daniels jailed in 2019 for their part in the operation. At the Court of Appeal, Ron Mansfield QC argued the statements made by a man who has name suppression, should have been ruled inadmissible because there was an absence of reasonable evidence that Naufahu was a member of the $1m conspiracy to supply pseudoephedrine. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Naufahu whose brother Pasilika is the president of the New Zealand chapter of the Australian motorcycle club also pleaded guilty to possession of MDMA, or Ecstasy, which is a Class-B controlled drug. Comancheros gang president Pasilika Naufahu has sentence reduced Catrin Owen 12:24, Oct 05 2021 RICKY WILSON/STUFF Pasilika Naufahu was jailed for his part in a drug and money laundering. Two more people involved with the Comancheros motorcycle gang have been sentenced after police surveilled a failed million dollar drug deal and a money launderer funnelling stacks of cash through. 'I got hooked then and there': Conservationist in her 80s documents rare sea lion species, Race and erasure: Why the world's other humanitarian crises don't see the same response as Ukraine. We growing stronger and stronger.". Shortly after, Sha talks with someone on the phone and tells the man your boss cancelled. You made it work. Tyson Daniels was It had been a previously been a strained relationship, the court heard. Thieves get their hands dirty on building sites, what the Governments latest Kiwibuild changes could mean for you, and a female officer knocked out in a vicious attack in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. more information Accept. The trial is set down for four weeks in front of Justice Graham Lang and a jury. Members made a splash in 2018 with social media posts of black and gold-clad members gathered around gold-plated motorcycles. The reality was that [the media personality] was running [the concreting business] for the joint benefit for himself and the organised criminal group, Johnstone said. There were "hints" in some of the reports that he was considering a change in lifestyle but the judge viewed the likelihood of that as remote. These include electronic monitoring with a curfew between 10pm-6am, not to use drugs, not to communicate or associate with co-offenders, or anyone connected to the Comancheros. Despite this, Simpson was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison. The Comanchero Motorcycle Club New Zealand president feared he was about to be arrested eight months before a major police bust and also suspected police were bugging his phone, a jury has been told. There was nearly 5kg of methamphetamine inside. The Comancheros gang boss has been denied parole for a second time in four months because he is still considered an excessive risk if released. In New Zealand, time is the business, if you f time, you never make money in this business, the man says. The president of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club has been jailed after being found guilty of sophisticated money laundering and drugs charges. "I can't wait to see you again dad. Comanchero Motorcycle Club president Pasilika Naufahu has been denied parole for a second time in four months. The five were arrestedfollowing a series of raidsacross Auckland in April 2019 which saw more than $3.7 million in assets seized along withluxury cars, motorcycles, luxury luggageand jewellery. After stopping at a cafe, the pair get back into the vehicle and the man can be heard telling Sha about how the area is one of the most policed areas in the country all gang squad. When brought in for questioning by police, Rahman claimed to be in New Zealand on holiday. You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Later that day, the man yells at Sha that he is wasting time and is going to blow the deal. At trial, Naufahu was found guilty of two charges of money laundering in relation to the purchase of a Bentley and Ford Ranger. "I deeply regret a father being separated from his family. I thought you'd be happy to hear that.". more information Accept. The president of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club president Pasilika Naufahu came to New Zealand in 2016 and went about setting up the gang for monetary gain while those around him enjoyed the benefits, the Crown say. "I'm so honoured to be your son, you taught me how to be a man, you're a legend to this club. Daniels was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison, later extended by three months for punching another inmate. There was nearly 5kg of methamphetamine inside. The Parole Board imposed special conditions on his release until his sentence officially ends in May 2024. One of the Comanchero members pictured is Pasilika Naufahu, once a senior member of the gang in Sydney, who was deported two years ago, according to the New Zealand Herald. More than $1.2m in cash was deposited into Simpsons trust account at his law practice, which was also used to purchase some of the cars belonging to Daniels and allegedly others in the club, as well as real estate such as a $1.3m home in Auckland. Gang president Pasilika Naufahu was among those put behind bars, sentenced to 10 years' jail after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply the Class B drug pseudoephedrine. When Jesse Vella stood to farewell his father, he must have appeared the picture of loyalty. When brought in for questioning by police, Rahman claimed to be in New Zealand on holiday. How many times do I need to say - I'm gonna get arrested soon. "All done and sworn in welcome aboard to my brothers in New Zealand," an Australian member of the Comancheros posted on Instagram. The late admissions come shortly before the pair were due to stand trial at the High Court in September, along with other members of the club and their associates on charges laid in April 2019 following Operation Nova. He was called the Wire Guy because he laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in wire transfers overseas. His sentence was later reduced to nine years and three months by the Court of Appeal. "Dad", the text says, "don't send me these," then another, "I told you to use your brain". A trial involving laundering and drug 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 name suppression is in its third week at the High Court at Auckland. Biker News does not belong to or support any Club. At trial, the Crowns case was that Naufahu arrived in New Zealand with zero dollars in his bank account. Comanchero club secretary Jarome Fonua was jailed for four and half years. Justice Sally Fitzgerald convicted Naufahu of the three offences and scheduled a sentencing date of October 23, 2020, alongside his fellow Comanchero Jarome Fonua. There were four Range Rovers - with price tags of $175,000, $255,000, $218,000 and $280,000 - a $200,000 Mercedes-Benz, a Lamborghini for $285,000, and two Rolls-Royces which cost $364,000 and $595,000. Seiana Fakaosilea, the gang's sergeant-at-arms, was not arrested in Operation Nova. The word puakas was translated by police as 'pigs'. luxury cars, motorbikes, high-end luggage, Comancheros: Man who bought car for gang vice-president gets community detention, Comancheros: Gang president found guilty of money laundering and drugs charges, Comanchero trial: Media personality ran company to 'disguise offending' Crown, Comanchero trial: 'Secrets and pretending' used to disguise offending, Crown says, Comancheros President Pasilika Naufahu admits some charges ahead of trial, lawyer Andrew Simpson and the gangs vice-president Tyson Daniels, the character section of the Australian Migration Act, Lawyer Andrew Simpson and the gangs vice-president Tyson Daniels, Simpson was jailed for two years and nine months, Jarome Fonua and Vetekina Naufahu also pleaded guilty, Mystery over Joseph Ahuriri deepens after truck spotted day of disappearance, Driver in fatal accident appeals her careless driving conviction, Judge to businesswoman - sell your mansion to pay your $10m debt, Doctor returned to US seven hours after crash that left chef with spinal injuries, Thrift club: I save money by avoiding supermarkets, Quiz: Afternoon trivia challenge: March 2, 2023, Rob Campbell says ministers 'targeted' him after he stood up for co-governance, Why we need to call time on the 10am check-out deadline, Pilot inexperience key factor in helicopter crash that killed couple, injured children, 'Much loved' community man killed in crash near Hanmer Springs. Young said the board was convinced Naufahu remained an undue risk and could not be released. Vetekina Naufahu joins two other senior members of the Comanchero motorcycle club in admitting charges of money laundering and participating in an organised criminal group following the covert police investigation Operation Nova. On the sentence appeal, Mansfield QC argued Justice Lang gave insufficient credit to reflect the challenges Naufahu has faced. Pasilika Naufahu was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Justice Graham Lang on Friday at the High Court at Auckland. "We still had many more memories to make, we still had so much more to do. Hakaraia offered cover as a professional service provider and businessman by reviewing the accounts of the concrete business, Johnstone said. 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