Man convicted over hoax bomb to appeal
THE man behind a fake bomb planted at Dunedin Airport will appeal his conviction and sentence, it has been confirmed.
Former airport security officer Preetam Prakash Maid (32) was jailed for three years by Judge Michael Crosbie before the Dunedin District Court last week after a jury found him guilty of the Aviation Crimes Act charge.
Despite the verdict, the defendant has continued to maintain his innocence and counsel Len Andersen QC confirmed an appeal would be lodged with the Court of Appeal.
Judge Crosbie, at sentencing, called it a ‘‘strong circumstantial case’’ against Maid, who had previously trained staff in screening for restricted items including improvised explosive devices like the one he constructed.
‘‘This was not a stunt by a larrikin or a cry for help by someone with mental health issues . . . There was, in my view, a high degree of premeditation and planning,’’ he said.
The planting of the hoax bomb came on March 17, 2018, just days after the Christchurch mosque attacks.
‘‘The country was reeling and mourning,’’ he said.
The Crown at trial said Maid had repeatedly raised his concerns over security at some parts of the airport and suggested the bomb was his way of exposing them.
The device — made up of a Soda Stream canister, a cellphone and wiring, which was found by a hut beyond the runway — was Xrayed by New Zealand Defence Force staff and neutralised.
One witness told the court it was the most sophisticated he
had seen in New Zealand and on par with those he had seen overseas.
The fake bomb also came with a cryptic handwritten note, wrapped around the bag’s handle.
That writing was compared with a sample of Maid’s and a forensic document examiner gave evidence that she was convinced the defendant had penned the note.
The defendant was also ordered to pay $6000 reparation.