FASHION HOUSE CREATOR TO STAND TRIAL ON DRUGS AND RECEIVING COUNTS

The founder of a high-profile fashion label will stand trial for his
alleged part in a cannabis cultivation operation, and for receiving
stolen property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

[redacted] a co-creator of the design house
[redacted], appeared at an Auckland District Court depositions
hearing yesterday, where he maintained not guilty pleas but conceded
he had a prima facie case to answer

He faces a number of charges, including cultivation of cannabis and
allowing his premises to be used to grow the drug, and receiving
stolen goods worth $600,000.

[redacted] are also charged in the cannabis offending.

[redacted] was arrested following police raids on a premises housing his
[redacted] label. Police at the time of his arrest described the
cannabis operation as "huge and sophisticated". More than 200 plants
were found in rooms on the property.

But his lawyer, Gary Gotlieb, said [redacted] operated out of the
same factory but had no link to the area where the cannabis was found.

"He's got some items and things on his property which are not that
flash but they're not major charges. But [police] are trying to lump
him in with all this next door."

The 11-year-old clothing label featured in last year's Air New Zealand
Fashion Week, with [redacted] and business partner [redacted] taking a
curtain-call on mini chopper bikes.

The [redacted] label burst on to the fashion scene when [redacted] and
[redacted], then studying textile design at the Auckland Institute of
Technology, won the [redacted]

[redacted] was awarded a trade and export award worth $16,000 at
Fashion Week in 2004.

[redacted] has since resigned his directorship, but remains a sole
director of [redacted].

All four men were yesterday committed for trial and remanded on bail
to call-over dates later in the year.