Ross Giblin/Stuff
Strict legal suppression prevents the naming, or identification, of the man whose alleged offending spans almost a decade. (file)
A major player in the New Zealand entertainment industry is battling a raft of sex crime charges that allegedly span almost a decade and relate to nine different complainants.
Suppression orders prevent Stuff from naming the man, or revealing any details that could identify him, as his case winds its way through the High Court ahead of a 2023 trial.
The man is currently charged with 28 offences, and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His defence lawyer has also raised the possibility he may seek to have some of the charges dismissed.
The alleged offending stretches from 2012 to 2021 and includes rape, sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, attempted sexual violation, indecent assault, assault with intent to commit sexual violation, burglary the supply of both methamphetamine and MDMA and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Seven of the charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
He is also alleged to have used drugs to stupefy some complainants, with one alleged rape accompanied by “putting the unknown drug (white powder) into her mouth”.
Other alleged offending occurred when complainants were under the influence of Ecstasy.
According to the Crown Charge Notice, in one 2017 incident the man is alleged to have indecently assaulted one complainant by “touching her after forcing his fingers into her mouth with methamphetamine”.
The man is also alleged to have attempted to prevent the course of justice by telling a Crown witness he would “discredit” him, and two complainants, “if they got onto the stand”.
