Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Samoan businessman denied name suppression over drugs charges

Posted at 21:14 on 23 October, 2012 UTC

A Samoan businessman charged with producing cocaine and possession of narcotics has been denied bail and name suppression.

He is 47 year old Niulevaea Ropati Ioane of Pesega and Faleula.

His lawyer Maiava Visekota Peteru applied for her client’s name to be suppressed and that he be released on bail.

The District Court denied both applications given the seriousness of the alleged offences.

Talamua online reports that Ioane will be back in court today for the police to finalise the charges against him and for the Court to set a hearing date.

Niulevaea had pleaded not guilty to the charges.