Rongomai Bailey outside court after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to try him on firearms charges. Photo / Brett Phibbs
The only person arrested in last year's nationwide police raids who won't stand trial is worried about the lingering effects the charges will have on his life.
Rongomai Pero Bailey, 28, said a lot of stigma was attached to being associated with the controversial raids.
"If anyone Googles
my name it comes up in association with terror trials, terror files, terror camps, and I don't even know how I could ever go to the [United] States - they've got a terrorist watch list of about 800,000 people," he said.
Mr Bailey had faced four firearms charges for camps he was alleged to have been to throughout last year, but Judge Mark Perkins yesterday ruled there was insufficient evidence to send him to trial.
Seventeen others were committed to stand trial on a range of charges laid under the Arms Act for possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
Outside the Auckland District Court yesterday, Mr Bailey said he and the others had been accused of being part of an "evil, terrorist group", but they were simply "victims of police who have over-active imaginations".
His brother Ira and sister Emily still face charges. "It's been a huge waste of time," Mr Bailey said.
The only evidence police had against him was a text message asking a friend what they were doing, he said. "And that's me trying to organise some meeting for a terrorist training camp."
He refused to say what was happening at the camps he went to in the Ureweras because "it could be taken out of context".
Mr Bailey said he had struggled to get a job in the Coromandel because his bail conditions required that he reported to police in Auckland each week. He now looked forward to "chilling out and growing some vegetables".
Evidence presented during the 19-day depositions hearing was suppressed and Judge Perkins extended that order yesterday.
The 17 who still face charges were remanded on bail until a callover at the Auckland District Court next February.
