By PATRICK GOWER
A Whakatane police constable moonlighting as a Japanese car importer has been convicted of dealing in unlicensed motor vehicles.
Constable Peter Sidney Sandle, who had name and occupation suppression lifted at sentencing, was ordered to pay $1500 in fines and $5000 costs after pleading not guilty to the charges in the Whakatane District Court last week.
Over a three-year period, and under three different identities, Sandle had imported or assisted in the importing of at least 60 motor vehicles from Japan.
Motor Vehicle Dealers Institute executive director Steve Downes said the institute was pleased to remove Sandle, a self-described "philanthropic car consultant," from dealing illegally.
"What was particularly disconcerting in this case was the fact it was also someone charged with upholding the law that flaunted it - namely a policeman," he said.
Constable Sandle said last night that the MVDI had unfairly targeted him because it "wanted to make an example out of a copper.
"This is nothing compared to what the bad guys out there illegally dealing vehicles from Japan are doing," he told the Herald.
"They just wanted to put the wind up them, and what better way to do that than nail a cop?"
He said he had brought in 60 vehicles as "a favour for family, friends and workmates" but only three or four had been found to be illegal.
"The MVDI is implying that I broke the law with every one of the 60 cars I brought in. But I just overstepped the mark on a couple of occasions, and even they were pretty dubious.
"I haven't done it for profit. I'm saving friends around $5000 on what they would get from a dealer - that's the story from the other side."
He was considering appealing against the decision and said the conviction would not jeopardise his career as a policeman because it was only punishable by a fine.
A statement issued by the institute says that in his summing up, Judge Russell Callender said Sandle's original benevolence underwent a subtle metamorphosis to finally become a business activity.
He considered some of the explanations provided by Sandle to be of "dubious reality, and at times misleading."
Mr Downes said they had not targeted Sandle just because he was a police officer.
"We've prosecuted all sorts of people: company directors, mechanics, you name it, we've had a crack at them. It's just unfortunate his occupation is a police officer."
The MVDI last prosecuted a police officer for illegal motor vehicle trading in 1995-96.
Mr Downes said he hoped the problem was not endemic in the police force.
Wheel-dealing constable nabbed
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