A Taiwanese student with a reputation for standover tactics has been told that further intimidation will land him behind bars for a long time.
Tsungshun Lee was sentenced to two years' jail by Justice Robert Chambers in the High Court at Auckland yesterday.
"If you ever repeat this behaviour again in New
Zealand, you can expect a much heavier sentence," the judge said. "Four or five years' imprisonment is by no means out of the question."
Lee, aged 22, who has a previous conviction for injuring with intent to injure, told a probation officer that he used his reputation to intimidate people for monetary gain.
He received commissions for "sorting out people's problems".
Justice Chambers said: "Let me make it clear to you - that sort of behaviour is not acceptable in this country."
Another Taiwanese student, Yu-Huan Lo, aged 21, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment.
They had admitted being involved with others in demanding $10,000 from an 18-year-old student, assaulting him and taking his car late in 2000.
Crown prosecutor David McNaughton told the judge that the victim was the son of wealthy parents living in China.
Lee's lawyer, Ron Mansfield, said Lee had been asked by the complainant's former girlfriend to collect a "valid" debt of about $7000.
The judge refused to suspend the prison terms, although he did grant permission for Lee and Lo to apply for home detention.
Outside the court, Constable Greg Burgess, the officer in charge of the case, said such standover tactics appeared to be increasing, especially among young Asians, although the police did not always get to hear of it.
Threats prevented victims from coming forward.
