Comanchero case: Media identity, accountant want secrecy

A media personality and accountant will now wait for a judge to decide if they will keep their identities secret after being arrested in a major police operation targeting the Comanchero Motorcycle Gang.

The pair, along with an accused lawyer and a woman defendant, argued for continued name suppression yesterday in the High Court at Auckland in front of Justice Grant Powell, who reserved his decisions.

The 37-year-old media figure has pleaded not guilty to allegations which include jointly laundering about $300,000.

The District Court earlier heard the media personality has been told his job prospects are “in danger” as a result of the criminal proceedings.

Ron Mansfield, the man’s lawyer, echoed the argument yesterday and said his client’s contract would be terminated if he was named. He would be “effectively unemployable within the media”.

The media company which employed the man was aware of the charges, the court heard.

A 41-year-old lawyer, who is charged with eight counts of laundering more than $2.4m and is accused of participating in the organised criminal group, also fought to keep his name secret.

He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

His counsel, Guyon Foley, said his client wanted name suppression due to the effect publication may have on people connected to him.

The accused lawyer has provided a written undertaking to the Law Society not to practise and has closed his law firm, the court heard.

Justice Powell granted interim name suppression until a hearing in November.

An Auckland accountant also sought to keep his name secret.

The man, 41, was arrested during the April raids and is accused of laundering about $750,000, and cocaine possession.

He has denied the allegations and his counsel, Simon Lance, argued if his client’s name was published his business interests would suffer. He said the accountant holds fears for the safety of his family should he be publicly connected to the gang.

The 38-year-old woman successfully sought name suppression.

Operation Nova, the yearlong police investigation into the Comancheros, arrested several people for alleged organised crime, money laundering and drug supply.

Eighty police officers raided Auckland properties in April, which also led to about $4 million of assets being seized.