'Drugged sex' verdict today

By JO-MARIE BROWN

A jury will today decide the fate of a man accused of spiking Asian women's drinks in order to steal their money and, in some cases, sexually violate them.

Eight women have given evidence at Pourshad Marco Arvand's trial in the High Court at Rotorua claiming they felt tired, dizzy and suffered memory lapses after accepting a drink of orange juice or sherry from him.

The Crown alleges Arvand, 36, slipped the sedative diazepam into their drinks before stealing their ATM and credit cards and withdrawing thousands of dollars from their accounts.

Arvand has admitted 17 fraud charges in relation to the stolen money but denies a further 26 counts of drugging the women and either sexually violating or indecently assaulting three of them.

In many cases, Iranian-born Arvand befriended the women and offered to escort them to popular tourist spots. On the way there he would give them a carton of Just Juice which the Crown alleges was spiked.

The Crown alleges Arvand stole the women's money to finance multiple overseas trips. He was arrested last April days before he was due to fly to Canada.

"What he was doing during the week of the 15-21 April was getting together his travelling money," said Crown prosecutor Jonothan Briscoe.

In reply, Arvand's defence lawyer Bill Lawson told the jury that the case was about theft and fraud, and that all other charges were simply pushing the boundaries.

Justice Judith Potter will sum up the case this morning.