Racing scandal mounts

Operation Inca: Charges laid

THERE were more arrests yesterday in the alleged racefixing and drug supply scandal that has rocked the New Zealand harness racing industry.

Eight harness racing identities and two people linked to the racing industry have been charged with either connection to racefixing or drug supply, leaving many in racing shaken and stunned.

Police announced the arrests of seven people yesterday morning.

Six more raids were conducted by police yesterday under warrants issued as part of Operation Inca — an investigation into alleged racefixing and the supply of drugs by some of harness racing’s most prominent names.

Another three arrests were made later in the day.

Operation Inca went public on Tuesday after the first 11 of a total of 17 search warrants were executed.

Police carried out nine search warrants on stables and properties in Christchurch, one in Invercargill and another in Manawatu.

The Canterburybased trio arrested yesterday appeared in the Christchurch District Court later in the day.

A 30yearold trainer appeared on drugdealing charges and unlawful possession of a restricted weapon.

Judge Tony Couch refused an application for name suppression, but counsel Andrew McCormick immediately indicated he would appeal the decision to the High Court.

The man has interim name suppression until 4pm tomorrow to give his lawyer time to file an appeal.

He was remanded on bail with out plea to September 26.

A 49yearold Christchurch man also facing drugs charges made no plea and was remanded on bail to September 26. He was granted interim suppression of name and occupation.

Elie Sawma, a 42yearold from Christchurch, has also been charged.

He faces seven allegations that between May 28 and July 20 this year, he supplied the classB controlled drug MDMA.

He also faces a charge of possessing MDMA and, on June 28, offering to supply the classA drug cocaine.

Sawma was remanded on bail by consent to October 4.

They appeared in the same court as promising young driver Matthew Anderson earlier yesterday.

Anderson (26), of Woodend Beach, 25km north of Christchurch, faces a fraudrelated charge, details of which are subject to an interim suppression order.

He is also accused of supplying a classB controlled drug.

He will be back in court next Tuesday when four men aged 34, 40, 41, and 44 are due to appear on matchfixing charges.

A 41yearold woman is due to appear the same day on two counts of supplying classB drugs and a 47yearold man will appear in Palmerston North District Court charged with deception by matchfixing.

Police began working on Operation Inca last April after receiving information from the racing integrity unit (RIU).

Police used phone surveillance to collect evidence from five people alleged to have been involved in racefixing.

They have been charged with being involved in or profiting from racefixing, which is listed in court documents as matchfixing.

By noon yesterday, nine people charged as part of Operation Inca were banned by the Racing Integrity Unit from entering any race course in New Zealand.

‘‘In view of the serious nature of the charges the police have laid, the Racing Integrity Unit has taken action under the Rules of Harness Racing to exclude all those charged by the police from enter ing a racecourse to attend race meetings, workouts and trials,’’ the unit said in a statement.

No harness racing participants from Otago or Southland have been arrested. — Additional reporting NZME