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A former Waikato Mongrel Mob vice-president has been jailed for nine years for manufacturing methamphetamine.
Dwight Fatu, 34, of Hamilton, was sentenced in the High Court at Hamilton yesterday on eight charges, including two each of manufacturing and supplying methamphetamine, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to supply methamphetamine, wilful neglect of children and receiving stolen property.
Fatu must serve five years before he is eligible for parole.
The charges follow three searches last year of Fatu's home, during which police seized equipment and chemicals to manufacture the drug, $7920 cash and stolen property, including a television set and two laptop computers.
During the third search in October at a flat in Ruakiwi Rd, Hamilton, police found surveillance cameras, chemicals and equipment in a car and other items which had been flushed down the toilet to avoid detection.
Justice MacKenzie rejected a suggestion by Fatu's lawyer, Sean Ellis, that it was a minor operation.
"The scale of manufacturing was high and the commercial element was significant," he said.
Among the aggravating factors Justice MacKenzie noted the offending took place over a seven-month period, partly while Fatu was on bail. He also regularly manufactured the drug while his two young children were present.
Justice MacKenzie said Fatu's gang involvement was also an aggravating factor.
Mr Ellis said Fatu expressed his remorse in a letter to the judge and had pleaded guilty once police agreed to withdraw the charges against his wife, Kerry.
He said the dangers he had exposed his children to were "something he punishes himself about every day when he thinks about it".
Mr Ellis also sought the return of $3600, found stashed behind a photograph, which he claimed belonged to Mrs Fatu from a windfall at the casino.
He argued the fact that Mrs Fatu faced bankruptcy and her husband had nothing, supported his assertion this was not a large commercial operation.
But prosecutor Mark Sturm referred to gambling receipts from Queenstown last year and questioned how the Fatus could visit the tourist town and gamble if their financial situation was so dire.
Justice MacKenzie agreed the money was drug-tainted and ordered the cash be forfeited along with the chemicals and equipment. He also ordered the stolen property be returned.
- NZPA
Ex Mongrel Mob vice-president jailed for nine years on drugs charges
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