More Kawerau police raid drug-accused deny charges

Fifteen more Kawerau raids drug accused had their cases called in the Tauranga District Court on Wednesday. Photo/File

A second group of people charged after police raids in Kawerau and other parts of the Bay of Plenty have appeared in court, with some denying the charges.

The cases of 15 people charged following the covert police sting called Operation Notus, centred around the Mongrel Mob in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, were called in court before Judge Thomas Ingram yesterday - the day after 20 people appeared in court in relation to the same incident.

Most of the defendants' court appearances were by audio-visual link from prison.

Seated in the public gallery were a large number of whanau and supporters who yelled out messages of support to the accused as their cases were dealt with one by one.

Tracey-Lee Enoka, 49, Irene Raki, 50, Nicky Chase, 51, and Tania Tangira, 35, all from Kawerau, and Nathan Wiremu Waikato, 40, Raymond Stephen Savage, 60, and Crystal Ohlson, 41, from Whakatane, were remanded to reappear in court on April 27 to enter pleas.

Te Oherere Lucky Boy Milosevic, 26, Slobodan Milosevic, 27, his father Frank Milosevic, 49, Phillip Walter Tangira, 38, and Raiha Tawera, 29, all from Kawerau, plus Aden Ohlson, 38, from Whakatane and Keith Pryor, 45, from Paengaroa, have all denied their charges. These seven defendants elected trial by jury which could be at least 18 months away, the court heard.

Their cases were also adjourned to April 27 for case review hearings, but some of the defendants had their attendances excused on that date.

Whakatane's Starlight Whitumarama Manuel, 34, who did not appear in court in person, also had his matters remanded to April 27 for pleas to be entered.

Some of the defendants have been bailed on strict conditions but Slobodan Milosevic and Aden Ohlson were refused bail.