5 Members Of Urewera 17 Escape "Terror" Charges

Wednesday, 31 October 2007, 10:55 am
Article: Alastair Thompson

Five of the 17 people arrested Monday morning in so-called "Terrorist" suppression operations by the NZ Police are not being pursued further by the Police for offences under the Terrorism Suppression Act.

According to a letter received by counsel for the accused and referred to on the radio this morning the police commissioner has referred only 12 of the 17 those arrested to the Solicitor General seeking leave to lay Terrorism Suppression Act charges..

Mon Monday afternoon Police announced the fact they were seeking leave to lay terrorism charges under the TSA via media release. They did not say they were only seeking charges against 12 of the accused.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand's Morning Report Moana Tuwhare the lawyer for one of the accused - a 53-year-old male from Palmerston North (who was granted bail on Monday 15 Oct unopposed by police) her client is one of those who is now off the hook in relation to the prospect of terror charges.

The man's name is suppressed and he still faces several Arms Act charges. He is due to appear in relation to these charges on November 1st in Auckland.

The names of the other two who are not to be charged are not yet known by Scoop.

The final person not facing charges was arrested in Ruatoki on October 15th when he got caught up in the police action. He was bailed on October 15th and does not face arms charges with the other accused. His name is also suppressed.

Meanwhile, according to the Dominion Post this morning Marama Mayrick - a film-(member of the Kotahi Ao crew) and student from Wellington arrested in Whakatane - is also one of those whom the police are not seeking terror charges against. Marama Mayrick who had been held in jail since October 15th was bailed earlier this week.

Meanwhile at 11.30am this morning the High Court in Auckland is due to announce a decision on the name suppression appeals by two of the "Terrror" case accused arrested in Auckland.

(continues…)

ENDS

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Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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