Lawyer jailed for importing cocaine

Press, 29 June 1985, Page 4

Lawyer jailed for importing cocaine

PA Auckland A barrister who intended to mastermind a significant cocaine distribution in New Zealand has been jailed for six years. Dan Gibson Witters, aged 32, of Remuera, also intended to be the brains behind an enterprise to import the drug, said Mr Justice Tompkins in the High Court at Auckland. Witters, once a “promising young lawyer” and a member of the District Law Society committee in Gisborne, pleaded guilty to seven cocaine-related charges. He admitted importing cocaine, offering to supply, two charges of cupplying cocaine, a charge of conspiracy to supply, a charge of conspiracy to import, and a charge of possession of cocaine. Mr Justice Tompkins said that in November, 1983, while Witters was involved in importing antiques, he was introduced to cocaine in the United States. In March, 1984, he re-

turned to the United States to discuss the possibility of importing cocaine to ease his financial pressures. In June, 1984, an amount of cocaine was imported into New Zealand by an associate of Witters, but Witters had given him active assistance by remitting the money. Witters received a commission of $lO,OOO. In August and September, 1984, Witters was actively arranging to import a big amount of cocaine into Australia, intending to import some of it into New Zealand. “It is clear that you were, or were intending to become, the brains behind an operation to import into New Zealand, and that you intended to be right at the very top of an importation proposal for very significant amounts,” his Honour said.

He referred to Witters’ “favourable upbringing”, his private boarding school and university education, and the setting-up of his successful legal practice in Gisborne.

“With your intelligence, coupled with your professional knowledge and experience as a lawyer, you knew perfectly well what you were proposing to be involved with,” his Honour said. Witters was well aware of the consequences if caught, but apparently concluded that the profit was worth the risk. Earlier, counsel for Witters, Mr Peter Williams, said Witters supplied only one person with Cocaine. Witters helped with the importation by explaining how to remit money from New Zealand to the United States through an Auckland coin and bullion company. Mr Williams said the money was smuggled from New Zealand “under the veil” of gold purchases. At the Gisborne bar, Witters was regarded as a most promising young lawyer. His legal career in Auckland was mainly in conveyancing.