Pania thief silent about accomplices

A man who stole Pania of the Reef is staying silent about who helped him remove the Napier statue.

Charles James Nukunuku, 25, pleaded guilty in the Napier District Court yesterday to theft of the statue from Marine Parade last month.

The cost of damage, and putting Pania back in place last week, was expected to be about $4000. Nukunuku was remanded on bail until December 20 for sentencing.