Case will ruin me, says board member

Nobilangelo Ceramalus. Photo / Carolyn Robertson

A community board member who allegedly attacked a teenage boy with a length of timber says he will not re-stand in upcoming elections because his honour and reputation will be destroyed by the allegations.

Waiheke board member Nobilangelo Ceramalus appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday in an unsuccessful bid for name suppression after being charged with assaulting a 14-year-old boy.

The assault allegedly occurred three weeks ago when the boy and a friend wandered on the 62-year-old's property with two dogs.

But Ceramalus told the court yesterday that the claims were "fabricated" and he planned to defend himself when the case goes to trial.

Outside of the courtroom he told the Herald the boy claimed he was hit over the head with a length of wood that was "two feet long and two inches thick" but that was "lies".

"Not a hair on his head was touched with anything.

"I found a couple of teenagers trespassing on my property for no good. They obviously did not like being ordered off and in retaliation went and told lies about me to the police."

The boy's family do not want to comment at this stage, saying they do not want to jeopardise the trial.

News of Ceramalus' charge has spread quickly around Waiheke but community board chairman Tony Sears said he was happy for Ceramalus to remain on the board until a decision had been reached in the courts.

As for whether he stood in the upcoming Waiheke local board elections for the new Super City, he said that would be a matter for Ceramalus to decide.

Ceramalus said he had been thinking about standing but this case had taken that choice away from him.

"It's a waste of time," he said. "If you are standing for a public position honour and reputation are everything and if your honour and reputation are destroyed then you're done."

Meanwhile Ceramalus says he's considering taking a case against the police for a breach of his interim name suppression. He was initially granted interim suppression after his first court appearance late last week but that was breached by a Waiheke publication this week.

During his hearing yesterday Ceramalus asked Judge Christopher Field what would happen in relation to that breach, which he suggested had come from the local police.

Judge Field suggested it might be a matter for the Attorney General but did not make any judgments on it.

Ceramalus later told the Herald he was now considering making that complaint to the Attorney General.

Waiheke Sergeant Steve Ambler said any claims of leaks coming from the police were "completely unfounded".