MAN JAILED FOR HIS PART IN FANTASY IMPORTING RING

A former MAF biosecurity information manager has been jailed for four
years for his part in a fantasy importation ring.

Muhammed Yusuf Alan Bates, 39, IT consultant of Wellington, had
pleaded guilty to six charges of being a party to the importation of
the drug fantasy.

He had been managing computer programs for the government department
that included border clearance and diagnostic laboratories. He lost
his job after he was arrested last year.

Yesterday, in Wellington District Court, Judge Denys Barry jailed
Bates for four years for arranging addresses and recruiting people to
receive packages filled with fantasy from China.

Bates originally used his own address but later brought three people
into the drug ring.

Judge Barry said that after the first importation Bates knew what was
being imported and how much of it was coming into New Zealand between
March 2008 and June 2009.

Packages Bates had involvement with included 14 parcels containing 139
litres of liquid fantasy with a street value of between $696,000 and
$1.39 million. He sent text messages checking on packages' arrivals.

Bates was not responsible for the planning, importation or for
distributing the drug once it was in New Zealand, Judge Barry said. He
did receive up to $5000 for his help but also shared that with the
others he recruited.

Judge Barry said Bates had 10 previous convictions, all for driving or
dishonesty charges. Bates was not the mastermind, he said.

"But he was more than a foot soldier. He took an active part in the
receipt and recruiting."

Bates's lawyer Rob Stevens said his offending had serious
consequences. He had lost his job and most hope of another good one.
His terminally ill wife had taken their children back to Indonesia.
With drug convictions he was unlikely to see her again or be able to
travel to see the children.