Happy Sunrise Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Anderson a free man...but new charges against 3 defendants! Seems like the battle is not over for some and to the contrary of what some vociferous individuals say. Rising harness racing star Matthew Anderson avoids conviction over drugs charges 19 Dec, 2019 3:51pm 3 minutes to read Matthew Anderson leaves Christchurch District Court after an earlier appearance. By: Kurt Bayer NZ Herald reporter based in Christchurch kurt.bayer@nzherald.co.nz @KurtBayerNZME A promising young harness racing driver says he took illegal party drugs to keep up with the daily grind of racing and travel around the country. Rising star Matthew Anderson used MDMA, a common recreational stimulant otherwise known as ecstasy, while chasing his dream of becoming the top young harness racing star in New Zealand. The 27-year-old was caught up as a "by-product" arrest during Operation Inca - the 18-month race-fixing investigation into New Zealand's harness racing industry by the National Organised Crime Group. Officers found that Anderson supplied drugs to others, including racing industry figures, between March 24 and August 20 last year. After earlier admitting two charges of possessing Class B drugs for supply and supplying Class B drugs, Anderson's lawyer Allister Davis told Christchurch District Court that he was a naïve young man who got the drugs for himself, but also for peers who he looked up to. Anderson was driven to source the stimulant drugs so he could continue to drive in circumstances where he would have otherwise tired easily, Davis said. He was chasing the Junior Driver Premiership at the time, competing in races all over New Zealand, which involved a gruelling travel schedule, and doing up to four to six races at a meeting. "That was the catalyst for the offending," Davis said. "This is his life, his passion." Judge Raoul Neave accepted it involved supplying "very small amounts" of MDMA to a circle of friends and associates. He also noted that Operation Inca had not intended to focus on illegal drugs. "These are not the crimes they were looking for," he said. Davis sought a discharge without conviction. Police opposed the application, with prosecutor Karyn South saying that a discharge for drug offending of this type would've been "very rare". She did, however, accept they were "by-product charges". If he'd been convicted today, the industry's Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) would have automatically dished out a two-year suspension from driving or even attending race courses. And even though Anderson could have asked for an exemption to continue racing, his case likely wouldn't be heard until the end of January and he'd miss out on around $20,000 in earnings, with many race meetings scheduled between now and then, Davis said. The RIU could still bring a prosecution and disqualify him. Judge Neave granted the discharge, saying he was "sympathetic" to Anderson's plight. He said that a lengthy or permanent ban would be devastating for Anderson and out of proportion to what were "acts of relatively youthful folly". "What started out as obtaining drugs to cope with pressures of his career, morphed in to a desire to assist those he may have wished to impress, and found himself caught up in something much bigger than him," the judge said. Eleven people arrested during Operation Inca had their cases called at court today but it was adjourned to a further pre-trial callover on March 12. Some new charges were also laid today against three defendants. Widespread suppression orders mean that for now their identities largely remain a secret while their cases go through the judicial system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 What an absolute waste of bloody time and money this operation Inca is! The NZ justice system has charged people then drop charges and then they leave it to the RIU to charge??? 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 A naïve young man -youthful folly -ffs, a 27 year old ! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flagship uberalles Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 53 minutes ago, Fred said: A naïve young man -youthful folly -ffs, a 27 year old ! Exactly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 To be fair, hardly Terry Sullivan, Mr Asia! Matt Anderson made mistakes and he will be first to admit it. I don’t condone drug use however I don’t believe you can hang him for what he did as he wasn’t doing it to make money as far as I understand rather catering for demand. FFS, this hopeless government we currently have are going to have us vote next year to see whether we want to make MARIJUANA not illegal, so go figure. We can all walk around in a total daze and that is all good! Those without sin can cast the first stone as they say!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blossom lady Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 What a good old sob story this was. Poor old(sorry young niave) Matt. Luckily they got the softest judge in chch. As for the 20k a month he might have missed out on. I certainly wouldn't mind that. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Blossom lady said: What a good old sob story this was. Poor old(sorry young niave) Matt. Luckily they got the softest judge in chch. As for the 20k a month he might have missed out on. I certainly wouldn't mind that. I think the 20k he would miss out on over the next month is massively overstated unless Matt is driving several horses in each race! Edited December 19, 2019 by Brodie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blossom lady Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 7 minutes ago, Brodie said: I think the 20k he would miss out on over the next month is massively overstated unless Matt is driving several horses in each race! You don't think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 5 minutes ago, Blossom lady said: You don't think! Yes Blossom, I do think!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongOwner Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 If this was not tied up with Inca it would of not made any paper or had any comment . If you look through every court in NZ of similar cases and of young to old the decision is the same - discharge no conviction . How many Law students etc get no conviction or diversion when they appear in Dunedin courts . MDMA - I do not condone drugs - is a party pill and is not heroin , LSD , cocaine , meths(p) etc . Wonder if other high profile people who will get diversion or discharged no conviction within the Inca net will have their name suppression lifted . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spatchcock Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 1 hour ago, LongOwner said: If this was not tied up with Inca it would of not made any paper or had any comment . If you look through every court in NZ of similar cases and of young to old the decision is the same - discharge no conviction . How many Law students etc get no conviction or diversion when they appear in Dunedin courts . MDMA - I do not condone drugs - is a party pill and is not heroin , LSD , cocaine , meths(p) etc . Wonder if other high profile people who will get diversion or discharged no conviction within the Inca net will have their name suppression lifted . LongOwner are you concerned for your trainer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhound Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 2 hours ago, LongOwner said: MDMA - I do not condone drugs - is a party pill and is not heroin , LSD , cocaine , meths(p) etc . What a stupid comment ..its an hallucinogen Class B drug same as LSD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blossom lady Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 12 hours ago, LongOwner said: If this was not tied up with Inca it would of not made any paper or had any comment . If you look through every court in NZ of similar cases and of young to old the decision is the same - discharge no conviction . How many Law students etc get no conviction or diversion when they appear in Dunedin courts . MDMA - I do not condone drugs - is a party pill and is not heroin , LSD , cocaine , meths(p) etc . Wonder if other high profile people who will get diversion or discharged no conviction within the Inca net will have their name suppression lifted . So Martin you would be happy for someone using ecstasy to be driving one of your horses or even sharing the road with ecstasy users! you are letting your bias towards the inca charged horseman affect your judgement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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