Court lifts name supression in drug ring case

A mechanic charged with supplying Ecstasy to the alleged ringleader in a so-called white-collar drug ring can be identified.

Adamu Shazizi Awahdi, 30, is charged with possession of Ecstasy for supply and supplying Ecstasy to company director John Francis Waterworth.

Awahdi is also charged jointly with conspiracy to supply Ecstasy.

Name suppression for Awahdi and another accused, Marcus Worrall, was lifted yesterday.

Worrall, 32, appeared in court in Queenstown last week charged with buying Ecstasy and conspiring to supply Ecstasy.

Restaurant manager Philip James Clark, 31, and businessman Elliot John Worrall, 31, also face charges in connection to the alleged ring.

A 51-year-old property developer charged with conspiracy to supply Ecstasy and a 39-year-old self-employed businessman have continued name suppression.

The businessman is charged with conspiring to supply cocaine and supplying Ecstasy.

His lawyer, Steve Bonnar, yesterday told the Auckland District Court that his client was not a celebrity and did not have a high profile.

He said publicity if the man was identified would affect his reputation, business and family. Mr Bonnar said police had not provided full details of their case, including transcripts of recorded phone conversations, and lifting suppression would prejudice his client's defence.

Judge Barbara Morris was not satisfied the man's personal circumstances outweighed the right to open justice but said there was a risk to his defence.

She was told the police case would be made available to the defence within a week, so she allowed continued suppression until next month.

The arrests followed a police electronic surveillance operation codenamed Aqua.

Two sports celebrities are named in charges faced by Waterworth, a 55-year-old company director who police allege to be the ringleader.

One of the stars is alleged to have bought Ecstasy. The other is allegedly a joint offender with Waterworth in supplying cocaine and cannabis.

The two men are overseas and have suppression until they are charged and appear in court.

Multimillionaire property developer David Stewart Henderson has admitted attempting to buy cocaine. He has applied for a discharge without conviction and a decision will be issued next week.