Prisoners ran drug imports from jail

A notorious career criminal used mobile phones to organise the importing of nearly $1 million worth of narcotics from behind his prison bars.

Ulaiasi (Rocky) Pulete was on remand in Mt Eden Prison for the armed robbery of a Karangahape Rd nightclub when he devised his drug-trafficking plan.

Yesterday, in the High Court at Auckland, Justice David Baragwanath jailed Pulete for a total of 14 years.

Pulete had earlier admitted both offences.

In the early 1990s Pulete was jailed for nine years for his part in two bank robberies.

Justice Baragwanath said that on June 7, 1999, about 9.30 am, Pulete went into Sinners Bar in Karangahape Rd disguised with a scarf wrapped around his head.

He was armed with a pistol, and two associates, who have never been caught, were carrying sawn-off shotguns.

They threatened the staff and Pulete put the bar manager, Malcolm McGuire, in a headlock.

Told that a security company had already picked up the previous night's takings, Pulete became angry and started shouting at Mr McGuire.

He struck him with the pistol, gashing his forehead.

At the same time the gun went off against the side of Mr McGuire's head, causing powder burns to his face.

The bullet narrowly missed his head.

The judge said that Pulete then kicked Mr McGuire in the leg and pointed the pistol at his chest, threatening to kill him.

While on remand for that offence in April the following year, Pulete formed a syndicate with another inmate and two other people to import amphetamines from Europe.

Using cellphones, the two inmates were able to organise and direct the importing from their prison cells.

However, Justice Baragwanath said, the package containing around $900,000 of amphetamine, which was being sent to an Auckland panelbeating company, was intercepted by Customs.

Pulete's lawyer, Roger Chambers, said the importing plot from behind prison walls was "cheeky, to say the least."

Crown prosecutor Mark Treleaven said the aggravating feature was that Pulete was on remand for the aggravated robbery when he initiated the drug importing.

According to the police summary of facts, Pulete and the other prisoner had a total of four banned cellphones.

Mr Chambers described Pulete as a "sort of spectre moving in a world of spectres," someone who for a long time inhabited a "somewhat twilight world."

Imposing a 14-year term, Justice Baragwanath said 32-year-old Pulete had condemned himself to spend his 20s in prison, and the balance of his 30s.

The question was how far into his 40s that should extend.

The judge said the reports described Pulete as a career and high-risk offender, unmotivated to change his lifestyle in or out of prison.