‘Diamond Jim’ extradition hearing soon

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 23

‘Diamond Jim’ extradition hearing soon

NZPA-AP San Francisco

A man alleged by the Australian authorities to be the paymaster of the “Mr Asia” drug syndicate will have an extradition hearing in the Federal Court in San Jose, California, on April 27. James (“Diamond Jim") Shepherd, aged 39, a native of New Zealand, also known as Thomas Gomez, stood silent when asked his name in court on April 9 by Federal District Judge Robert Aguilar. The Judge said that since whether the person detained was in fact the person named in the warrant was a main issue, Shepherd was within his rights in remaining silent.

An assistant United States Attorney, Mr Robert Dondero, said outside the Court that he believed the Government would have no difficulty in establishing the man’s identity through fingerprints.

Shepherd was taken into custody last month when he

failed to appear in a court on a drink-driving charge in nearby Marin County. The charge was dropped after an extradition hold was placed on him.

Seventeen arrest warrants are out for Shepherd in Sydney, according to an extradition complaint filed by r Mr Dondero. The complaint said that Australian officials allege that Shepherd engaged in a conspiracy to import, supply, and export heroin into and from Australia, as well as supplying and possessing heroin and supplying cash to drug couriers for travel and accommodation to and from Singapore.

Australian Consulate officials in San Francisco said that Australian news reports alleged that Shepherd was paymaster in what is known as the “Mr Asia” drug syndicate. They said he had moved from New Zealand to Sydney in 1978 and within four months became an active member of the group.