Scientist faces drug charges

Press, 24 July 1987, Page 7

Scientist faces drug charges

A Ministry of Works scientist charged in the District Court yesterday with cultivating cannabis, and possessing the drug for sale or supply to others, had photographs in his home showing cannabis crops in various stages of growth.

Evidence of this was given during the preliminary hearing of charges against Leslie Robert Basher, aged 34. He was alleged to have cultivated cannabis in concealed plots in a bush and gorse area in North Canterbury between October 1 last year and April 30 this year, and to have possessed cannabis leaf, for sale or supply to others, in his Christchurch home on May 11. After hearing statements of evidence by

three detectives, Mrs C. M. Holmes and Mr J. W. Taylor, Justices of the Peace, found there was sufficient evidence to commit Basher for trial.

They remanded him on bail pending a date for trial by jury in the District Court.

His counsel, Mr M. A. L. McDonald, reserved the defence.

Detective Sergeant N. T. Higgison prosecuted.

Prosecution evidence was given that detectives searched Basher’s home and found in a spare bedroom a roll of plastic bags, a large set of scales, and $1350 in a bundle of banknotes in the pocket of a leather jacket. In another jacket a plastic bag containing cannabis leaf was found, and in a wardrobe were

three plastic rubbish bags, and another plastic bag, containing various quantities of cannabis.

Three plastic jars also were found, with writing on them including various weights.

The total amount of cannabis found was 2.6 kg. Photographs were found of plots of cannabis plants growing in a cleared area in gorse and bush. The plots were surrounded by mesh fencing. Other photographs showed plots in a similar surrounding and similar mesh fencing but with plants at a more advanced stage of growth. A glasshouse was attached to a double garage on the property and in the garage the police found several planter boxes. A film container in the gar-

age contained 25 cannabis seeds. ,•

Questioned by a detective, Basher said the cannabis belonged to him and two friends whom he could not name “out of loyalty” to them. He had not weighed the cannabis, which was to be divided between him and his friends. The set of scales were from his work. He had been storing them at his home while working on a project on the West Coast. He had not used them to weigh cannabis.

Basher said he was not a dealer in the drug.

He said he had cultivated the plants from which the cannabis was harvested. He had started the seedlings in his glasshouse, and planted them out in three plots in North

Canterbury. Some died in a drought, some in flooding and 30 plants grew to maturity. They were dried by hanging in his glasshouse and garage.

Basher told the interviewing detectives he was not heavily involved in the cannabis scene and just enjoyed smoking the drug with friends. The photographs of cannabis plants growing were not his but were of cannabis he had grown in other years. He had grown it in other years but this was “a much better year.” Of the $1350 found in a coat pocket, Basher said $350 was his savings, with which he intended to pay accounts, and $lOOO belonged to a friend who had left it with him to look after.