Multi-millionaire drug buyer to learn fate today

Multi-millionaire property developer David Henderson will know today if he has won a bid to avoid a conviction on a drug charge.

Henderson, 51, named in this year's National Business Review Rich List, admitted a charge of attempting to procure the class A drug cocaine when he appeared in the Auckland District Court earlier this month.

However, he asked the court for a discharge without conviction saying the impact on him and his company, the Kitchener Group, would be disproportionate to the crime.

The ruling on Henderson's application was due to be delivered today by Judge Simon Lockhart, QC.

The Kitchener Group is one of Auckland's leading property developers and completed the development of the Princes Wharf and the Hilton Hotel. Henderson was said in the Rich List to be worth $30 million.

The court was told Henderson was the single shareholder in the group and a conviction would create "significant exposure" because the Kitchener Group and David Henderson's name were synonymous.

The company's chief executive, Christopher Aiken told the court a conviction would have an impact of disproportionate magnitude on the company and the many people who relied on the confidence his reputation had built.

Henderson was charged after police raided several properties across inner city Auckland last month and broke what they called a "white collar drug dealing ring."

Last week television celebrity and former Kiwis rugby league star, Brent Todd, applied to have a suppression order lifted on his name, saying he wanted to clear the air.

Todd was named in court documents when others arrested during the raids appeared in court but Todd said in court through his lawyer he wanted it known he had never bought, sold or supplied prohibited drugs.

Todd lives in Australia and has not been charged but police said he would probably face charges if he returned to New Zealand.

Another high-profile former sports star was also named. He too has yet to be charged after he was also named on court documents. His name remains suppressed.

- NZPA