Businessmen in $14m P case jailed

1.00pm

Two Auckland businessmen have today been sentenced to 11 and 14 years respectively for importing methamphetamine worth up to $14 million into the country.

David Cyrus Shaida, 47, a former governor at King's School in Remuera, and Theodoor Graaf, 52, admitted importing the drug methamphetamine - known as P - and possession of a class-A drug for supply.

Prosecutors said in the Auckland High Court today that both men became involved in importing the drug after suffering financial difficulties.

Graaf was found with a total of 11kgs of the drug, while Shaida had imported almost 3kg.

Defence lawyers for both men said their sentences should be reduced because of their early guilty pleas, the fact they had no previous convictions and that both had been upstanding members of the community.

Both were also said to be deeply remorseful.

Shaida was sentenced to 11 and half years in prison, with a minimum parole period of five years and nine months, while Graaf was given 14 years, with a no-parole period of 60 per cent.

Judge Justice Hugh Williams said: "If a member of the community looked at either of you, they would have thought you were good men, but you have done a terrible thing.

"You are now facing some of the most serious charges in New Zealand."

Graaf was arrested on April 2. There were 5.9kg of methamphetamine found at his home - at the time the largest quantity found in New Zealand. There was also $164,000 worth of various currencies and expensive jewellery.

He admitted to being a drug courier and bringing in a total of 11kgs of the drug into the country on four occasions between September 2003 and March 2004.

He said he received between $200,000 and $300,000 as fees for his work.

His Dutch migrant family came to New Zealand 50 years ago. His mother is struggling to come to terms with what occurred, the court heard. Graaf has a university education, speaks four languages and was a general manager of a company in New Caledonia before becoming bankrupt in 1996.

He admitted to being sucked in to the lure of money and that he weighed up the risks of what he had done and believed he could get away with it because customs was lax.

Shaida made at least four trips this year. Almost 2kgs of the drug, worth up to $2 million, were found in his bags at the airport and another 980g was found at a later stage.

The judge said both men were motivated by greed but gave them reduced sentences because of their guilty pleas.

- HERALD STAFF