A Welcome Bay man charged in relation to the armed hold-up of the Arataki Superette last month has appeared in court.
Sickness beneficiary Rowan Arana Ngati, 27, appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday on charges of being an accessory after the fact to armed robbery and blackmail. The blackmail charge relates
to an allegation that Ngati and the alleged gunman tried to extort $1200 from the female owner of a rottweiler dog by threatening to cause serious harm to her pet.
Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier said the first charge stems from an allegation that Ngati helped the gunman to evade arrest after the July 19 robbery.
Ngati, who is yet to enter pleas, was granted bail on strict terms, including a ban on contact with his co-accused or the complainant and a nightly curfew.
He must also report to police twice a week and is banned from consuming alcohol and non-prescribed drugs. Ngati is due back in court today.
His alleged 26-year-old co-offender, from Tauranga, who was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody when he appeared in court on Saturday, is also due back in court today. He will face a charge of theft of a dog and a joint charge of blackmail.
