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Urewera 17: Fourth "Terror" Accused Granted Bail
Fourth "Terror" Accused Granted Bail
By Alastair Thompson
On Friday a fourth member of the Urewera 17 - the 17 so-called "terrorists" arrested on Monday October 15th - was been released on bail in the Auckland District Court.
The 32 year old dancer has name suppression.
Three of the 17 "terror" accused had already been granted bail.
Two were granted bail at the beginning of the Police's "Operation 8", one in Palmerston North and one in Rotorua.
On Tuesday documentary-maker Rongomai Bailey, 28, was granted bail in Auckland.
Thirteen members of the Urewera 17 remain in jail and all have now had their cases transferred to Auckland District Court where they will appear on November 1st and 2nd in what looks to be a marathon session.
This coming Monday 19-year old student Omar Hamed is expected to apply for bail in Auckland District Court.
Meanwhile appeals have been lodged in relation to decisions in the Wellington and Rotorua District to deny bail to "terror" accused. These may be heard next week.
At present all the accused face charges under the Arms Act alleging illegal posession of weapons at "terrorist training camps" in the Urewera. Prosecutors said last Friday that the police hoped to decide by the end of this week whether to pursue charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act.
However no announcement has yet been made by the Police Commissioner Howard Broad on whether he intends to seek leave from the Attorney General to lay these charges.
Attorney General Michael Cullen has delegated the decision making process - if it takes place - to Solicitor General David Collins.
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Alastair Thompson
Scoop Publisher
Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.
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