Security tips for apiarists

Where possible keep hives in paddocks, locked away from public view. Engrave or fire-brand registration numbers into the hive and on to the frames. Carry ID when travelling with hives. quarter of the stolen honey. The rest has disappeared, with police alleging it was on-sold to other buyers.

Sheng Sun was at best wilfully ignorant and reckless to the fact the honey was stolen when he claims a man named “Gary” made him an attractive offer he couldn’t refuse, police said.

He told detectives he bought the honey from Gary on June 8 last year for $15,000 in cash.

Sheng Sun, who owns Belong Health Store on Auckland’s Dominion Rd, sells cosmetics, health supplies and honey. “Business was good,” he told police. During the trial before Judge Ajit Singh, Sheng Sun’s counsel, Lester Cordwell, said there was no debate about whether the honey in his client’s possession was stolen.

“Clearly the items had been received by Mr Sun, they were stolen — that’s accepted,” he said. But he argued whether the 41-yearold businessman, who has lived in New Zealand for 16 years but returns to his birth country regularly, had any knowledge it was stolen.

Police recovered 96 containers of the 500g honey pots and 166 units of the 1kg honey jars, much of which was found for sale on the Belong Health Store shelves.

Cordwell said police could only speculate that Sheng Sun had once had the rest of the honey in his possession.

But in his decision delivered last week, Singh found Sheng Sun guilty.

The judge considered the transaction was “very unusual” and the businessman had been reckless.

“Accordingly, I find you guilty as charged of receiving stolen manuka health honey,” Singh said.

“Guilty?” A confused Sheng Sun said, questioning the verdict.

“I found you guilty, and counsel can give you advice,” the judge said.

“I don’t understand the decision, no way! I saw [Gary] yesterday, why don’t you ask him?” Sheng Sun told the court.

He will be sentenced in April.