Focus of Inca inquiry widens to Auckland

AUCKLAND: Betting anomalies have been identified and police say more arrests are possible as the probe into alleged corruption in New Zealand harness racing widens to the Auckland region.

Thirteen harness racing figures have so far appeared in court in relation to Operation Inca, the 18month racefixing investigation by the National Organised Crime Group.

Many accused cannot be named for legal reasons and have denied matchfixing and other charges. They are awaiting a High Court hearing in February for name suppression to be argued.

The charges came after raids on stables and properties in Canterbury, Invercargill and Manawatu in September.

Yesterday, police said investi gators from the Racing Integrity Unit and detectives from the National Organised Crime Group had this week conducted further inquiries in the Auckland region.

‘‘Betting anomalies have been identified in at least one race in May 2018,’’ a police statement said.

‘‘The RIU is considering charges relating to the breach of rules around driver betting in relation to these anomalies.

‘‘Further arrests and charges by police are also possible.’’

The Christchurch District Court heard on Wednesday that a male driver in his 50s has been charged with conspiring with another person to manipulate a race result earlier this year by ‘‘administering a substance’’ to a horse before the race ‘‘in order to gain a pecuniary advantage, namely the winning stakes’’.

Defence lawyer Phil Shamy said the man denied the charge and would elect trial by jury.

Judge Raoul Neave granted him interim name suppression which will be reviewed when he comes back to court — along with others — on March 25 next year.

North Canterbury trainer Andrew Douglas Stuart (42), who had previously entered not guilty pleas to three racefixing allegations, faces a fourth such charge. It is alleged that with another man he ‘‘manipulated the overall result’’ of a race earlier this year by deception and without claim of right.

A 40yearold Canterbury man who denies three racefixing charges and who is yet to enter pleas on two unrelated drugs charges had another drugs charge laid this week.

Graham Henry Beirne, (71), of Christchurch, who previously denied two racefixing charges, faces a third charge for which no plea has been entered. Judge Neave remanded Beirne until March 25.

Three others, aged 50, 35 and 26, deny racefixing allegations, as does Palmerston North man Brent Stephen Wall (47) and Rolleston trainer Nigel Raymond McGrath (44).

Others face drugs charges their lawyers say is unconnected to the racing investigation. — NZME