Surprise guilty plea in Mob trial

Two Mongrel Mob members made surprise guilty pleas late in the first day of their kidnap trial yesterday.

Nevara Raymond Raheke, 36, and Tahi Jock Wikio, 29, initially pleaded not guilty in the High Court at Wellington to kidnapping, blackmailing and assaulting Philip Hohipa in the Lower Hutt suburb of Naenae on September 9, 2005.

The Crown said Mr Hohipa was kidnapped, beaten up, threatened with murder, and forced to hand over his car to to Wikio and Raheke, who believed he was responsible for the arrest of a gang prospect.

Raheke and Wikio were remanded for sentencing on February 16.

- NZPA