Jewel thief suspect arrested

One of two foreigners accused of stealing jewellery worth $770,000 in two Auckland robberies last month has been arrested in Wellington.

The man was found late yesterday after police received information from the public.

However, a second man, Juan Leal-Casillas - who was last seen in Wellington --remains on the run.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard said public information had led to the arrest of the man in Wellington, who was remanded in custody when he appeared in Wellington District Court today. He will reappear on Tuesday.

Five people have already been arrested in relation to the robberies and appeared in Auckland District Court yesterday.

Three of the people who appeared in Auckland District Court can be named - Cesar Orlando Romero, 43, Javier Espinosa Agreda, 26, and Maria Teresa Martinez, 47. Romero was listed on court documents as being from Colombia.

They each face two charges of aggravated robbery, along with charges of membership of an organised criminal group which were laid today. Romero is also charged with possession of a false United States passport.

Two other women, aged 43 and 25, had charges of membership of an organised criminal group added to the charges of receiving on which they appeared in court at an earlier date.

They cannot be named after their lawyers, Barry Hart and Alistair Haskett, appealed a decision declining them name suppression.

The women, who Mr Hart said were American citizens, did not have name suppression for their earlier appearances but suppression was sought today.

Mr Hart said his client, the 25-year-old, had been co-operative with police on the receiving charges but hotly contested the criminal group membership allegation.

Judge Eddie Paul rejected their application, saying the case was of high public interest and the accused had not proved that any possible fair trial prejudice overrode the presumption of open justice.

"The allegations is that foreign nationals have entered this country and committed two robberies in excess of $700,000 on the streets of our country," he said.

"If that's not of significant public interest, frankly I don't know what is."

Suppression applies until 4pm on Wednesday unless the High Court overturns Judge Paul's decision.

The alleged victims were dealers from Australia and Asia who were in New Zealand to buy and sell jewellery.

One dealer from Sydney was robbed of jewellery worth $110,000 in suburban Parnell on May 2.

Two other international dealers were robbed of more than $600,000 in gems outside Rydges Hotel in central Auckland on May 17.

Most of the stolen jewellery has been recovered.

All the Auckland accused are due to reappear in Auckland District Court on June 24.

- NZPA