Multimillionaire admits cocaine charge

David Henderson

Multimillionaire property developer David Henderson has pleaded guilty to a cocaine charge after being implicated in a major drug ring that also involves two celebrities.

Henderson, 55, pleaded guilty to one charge of attempting to buy the class A drug when he appeared in the Auckland District Court on Monday.

The man behind the development of Auckland's waterfront at Princes Wharf and other multimillion-dollar property deals has blamed a series of phone calls for his drug conviction.

"That's cellphones for you," he said, but refused to elaborate until after sentencing next week.

Speaking from his penthouse atop the Hilton Hotel, Henderson described his conviction as "a very minor misdemeanour".

"These things happen."

Staff at Henderson's company Kitchener Group said he was not directly involved with drugs but people close to him were.

A spokesman for Henderson said the property developer was "very embarrassed" and "regrets his involvement in this matter".

The spokesman said Henderson, who entered the National Business Review Rich List this year for the first time with a personal fortune of $30 million, had fronted up to end speculation.

"There were a lot of incorrect rumours about him but also people second-guessing other people in the property industry.

"He thought that was unfair ... so he accepted responsibility and took it on the chin immediately when he came back from holiday."

Henderson was in the United States when police announced they had busted a major drug ring in central Auckland last month.

The prominent businessman now fears his conviction will affect his ability to travel to America. He said he doubted whether he would be allowed into that country again.

Henderson was first linked to what police called a white-collar drug ring when he was named in charges against the alleged kingpin, a company director.

Two celebrity former sports stars were also implicated in the ring but have not been charged and have name suppression.

The charge of procuring cocaine was laid against Henderson after he returned from America last week.

His spokesman said the charge was decided after Henderson was interviewed by police.

"They must have had clear grounds for believing this was the correct charge.

"There's no deals. There's no diversion. None of that. David went and told them the truth. They've acted according to that and they've accepted that."

Henderson may make a personal statement about his involvement with those implicated in the bust after he is sentenced.

"I think David sees it as a personal error of judgment," said his spokesman. "He's saying, 'I'll stand and be counted'. He's clearly distressed and upset by it.

"David is also very concerned if it's caused the people around him any grief and he's saying he's going to deal with it in the most honest and direct way he can."

Henderson had told colleagues he wished the celebrities would also front up to end speculation.

The six men charged when police terminated a month-long operation codenamed Aqua reappeared in court yesterday. Two did not seek continued name suppression.

Philip James Clark, 31, a bar manager of Grey Lynn, is charged with the alleged kingpin with conspiring to supply cocaine.

Elliot John Worrall, a 30-year-old businessman of Herne Bay, is charged with possession of Ecstasy for supply.

Police revealed that they had also charged another man.

He was named in court documents as jointly offending with the alleged kingpin in conspiring to supply Ecstasy and buying Ecstasy from the company director.

Police would not say what the man had been charged with but said he had appeared in the Queenstown District Court and would join the other accused at their next appearance in Auckland next month.

Name suppression continued for the four who are accused with Clark and Worrall.

They are the 55-year-old alleged kingpin from central Auckland, a 30-year-old mechanic from Albany, a 51-year-old property developer and a 39-year-old self-employed businessman. Suppression of their names will be argued on Wednesday. Their lawyers expressed concern that they had not been notified the media were fighting continued suppression.

Defence lawyer Steve Bonnar presented an email he said was received from police assuring him that name suppression would continue.

The lawyers said they had not come to court prepared to fight over suppression because they had been given an assurance by the police.

Tim Allan for TV3 said lawyers did not alert the media to the fact they intended applying for suppression before appearing in court.

Charged

* Philip James Clark, 31, a bar manager of Grey Lynn.
* Elliot John Worrall, a 30-year-old businessman of Herne Bay.
* A 55-year-old company director from central Auckland, who police allege is the king pin of the white-collar drug ring.
* A 30-year-old mechanic from Albany.
* A 51-year-old property developer from central Auckland.
* A 39-year-old self-employed businessman from Freemans Bay

Pleaded guilty

* David Henderson, 55, an Auckland property developer.

Also involved

* Two celebrities have been named in court documents but not yet charged.