Drink-driving charge bribe failed

A Christchurch man offered police $2000 cash to drop a drink-driving charge, the Christchurch District Court was told yesterday.

Linton Reuben, 21, a manager, who was convicted of bribery and drink-driving, had asked an officer who breath-tested him "how much it would take" to drop the charge, and mentioned the figure of $5000.

The officer, wanting to see if he was serious, pulled up at an automatic teller machine. Reuben handed over $2000. He was sentenced to 260 hours' community work.