A Spanish lawyer on a $15,000 South Pacific holiday that was to include nights at some of New Zealand's best hotels received taxpayer-funded legal aid after he was caught bringing drugs into the country.
Dominguez Pedro Eduardo Carreras, aged 42, was granted legal aid - supposedly reserved forthose who cannot afford lawyers - even though he gave his occupation and had cash and credit cards on him.
Carreras, who lives in the Canary Islands holiday resort of Puerto Del Rosario, paid a fine before flying to Fiji for three nights.
The Weekend Herald understands that it is common for foreigners caught with drugs at Auckland Airport to receive legal aid. The lawyer who represented Carreras said she had handled several similar cases.
Court manager Andy Gillies said his staff could have questioned Carreras more rigorously but were extremely busy. They processed the application based on his declaration that he had no income or assets here.
Carreras was charged with importing a class B drug - an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment - after he was sniffed out by a dog in the airport customs hall last week. Customs officers found 11.4g of hashish, also known as cannabis resin, in his pocket.
He told them it was for his use and he did not realise the drug was illegal in New Zealand.
Carreras, whose English is poor, appeared in the Manukau District Court that day, applied for legal aid and was represented by barrister Denise Wallwork. He pleaded guilty and was freed on bail to appear again the next day for sentencing.
That night he stayed with his partner, understood to be a public relations consultant, at the Sheraton Hotel, which he had booked as part of his holiday package. The room costs $280 a night, although it is understood he received a discount through the prepaid tour package.
He and his partner were supposed to have spent two nights in Auckland, two in Rotorua, two in Queenstown, one in Wanaka and one in Christchurch, staying at the Millennium hotel chain.
On Wednesday last week, Judge Russell Callander fined Carreras $1500 plus $130 costs and ordered him to pay immediately or be jailed for a month.
He was held in custody until his partner paid the fine. The couple then left for Fiji.
