Irai Weepu (50) was sentenced in the Greymouth District Court to nine months' home detention on each of the three charges. Judge Alistair Garland said he found it "hard to believe" Weepu's explanation that the cash was from the sale of greenstone, but noted that had not been pressed in defence. Judge Garland noted significant offending going back to 1988. Judge Garland said. In reply, Mr Taffs said if the court were to consider an electronic sentence it would be at the Wainuioumata home of Weepu's brother and sister-in-law, whose son was Piri.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 03, 2016 02:03 UTC