Fugitive accused gives trial date a miss

Lee Bell. Photo / Supplied

An alleged P cook who walked free from the High Court at Auckland when a judge remanded him in custody five weeks ago is still on the run from police.

Lee Richard Oswald Bell, 41, failed to appear in court yesterday where he was meant to face trial on charges relating to the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Bell walked free from court after a judge refused him bail on February 10. He had just completed an $18,000 rehabilitation at the exclusive Capri clinic when he was denied bail during his first monthly bail check. He left court, taking a taxi to the SkyCity casino but left when he was approached by security staff, leaving $5800 in a poker machine.

Bell faces charges relating to a P lab bust in Northcote Pt last July. During the raid, police found about $77,000 of P, $46,000 cash and 2kg of cold-medicine tablets.

His partner Rania Niazi, 26, who appeared in the North Shore District Court yesterday, is alleged to have been contacting Bell while he has been on the run. Detective Warren Mills of the North Shore CIB would not say how she was alleged to have contacted Bell.

Niazi was also charged with possession of P, possession of two P pipes and charges relating to the alleged creation of false identification. She was remanded in custody.

Police believe Bell is still in the Auckland region and are repeating appeals to the public to report any sightings of him.

* Anyone with information about Bell's whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Sergeant James Watson on 0800 243 892.