Constable faces trial over P bags

A South Auckland policeman has been committed for trial on charges of stealing the drug P from work and giving it to his friends.

It is alleged Constable Joseph Rawiri pocketed two bags, one of which contained a small crystal of the drug methamphetamine, during a search of a car in January.

Yesterday he pleaded not guilty to both charges in a depositions hearing at the Manukau District Court.

In a brief of evidence his partner on the night, Constable Kiley Dalbeth, said the pair pulled over a car in Manurewa because they thought the driver was in breach of bail conditions.

A search by Rawiri of the driver, passenger and inside the car uncovered cannabis and a glass "P-pipe".

Mr Dalbeth searched the car boot and found two bags, one of which contained the P crystal.

In a statement Rawiri gave to police before his arrest, he said the bags were empty apart from specks of crystal or powder.

He said he planned to throw them out at the station but forgot and instead took them home where his friends and girlfriend were trying to "hook up a deal" for P.

In his statement he said he gave the bags to them, inviting them to have whatever they could get out of the bags. He also said he smoked P "heaps" before joining the police.