DECISION BACK IN COURT

Auckland: An American billionaire who escaped conviction for importing
marijuana into New Zealand needed his reputation protected because he could
lose his job, the man's lawyer said yesterday.

In the High Court at Auckland, lawyer Marie Dyhrberg said two senior
executives involved in the same company told her he would have to stand
down as chief executive if convicted.

The businessman has a 15% stake in the company and his personal fortune is
estimated at $1.3 billion.

Judge David Harvey discharged the billionaire without conviction on January
7 in Otahuhu District Court for importing 100g of cannabis and hashish. The
judge granted permanent name suppression.

The New Zealand Herald took the case back to court this week for a review
of that decision, the latest move in the newspaper's battle to overturn the
suppression order.

Justices Nicholson and Potter reserved their decision which is expected to
be handed down in two to three weeks.