DRUG DEALER HAS MONEY HAUL RETURNED BY COURT

A Nelson man who admitted having cannabis for sale has got back the more
than $27,000 that police found in his house. Engineer Andrew Henry Rangi,
36, admitted charges of possessing cannabis for sale and the unlawful
possession of a firearm, when he appeared in the Nelson District Court
earlier this week.

During a search of Rangi's house on September 17, 1999, police found 360
grams of cannabis and $27,670 around the house. $11,000 was found in a
chest of drawers, $14,650 in a plastic box under the bed and $200 in the
drawer of a bedside table. Another $1820 that was found belonged to Rangi's
partner.

Crown prosecutor Mark Davies said the money had been made by Rangi from the
sale of cannabis and it should be forfeited to the Crown.

Rangi's car had been identified near a large cannabis plot that had been
found by police, and a small bag of cannabis had been found hidden in a
punching bag at his house.

During the two-day hearing, Rangi said the money had come from a withdrawal
from the bank and the sale of his Harley Davidson motorcycle in August.

He said he had withdrawn $11,000 from the bank after he became concerned
when a former employer tried to reverse an automatic payment for his
salary. He had received $16,000 from the sale of his motorbike with $1000
to be paid at a later date.

Judge John Walker said he believed the money had not come from the sale or
possession of cannabis.

"There is no evidence put before me that would imply $11,000 was from
dealing in drugs. There is also evidence to show the sale of the Harley
Davidson for $17,000."

He said Rangi had kept the money from the motorbike's sale at home because
he intended to buy another motorbike at a later date.

"Finding a single bag of (cannabis) plant material does not give rise to
any reference that money came from the sale of other cannabis," Judge
Walker said.

Rangi was remanded in custody on the cannabis and firearms charges and
would be sentenced on Friday.