Three plead guilty in High Court at Auckland to brutal torture, kidnapping
Earlier in May, Head Hunters Motorcycle gang member Israel Lama, whose partner was inappropriately touched by the victim, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and a raft of assault charges.
Jade Jerome and King Cobras patched member Nathan Tuaiti also pleaded guilty at that time.
Ricky Harder was the earliest to plead guilty in October last year.
The victim, while having survived the ordeal, suffered multiple injuries – including burns to his face and chest, wounds to his legs, lacerations over his chest and bruising on his back.
He did not report the matter but was discovered by chance by police officers who were at the same hospital attending to another matter.
According to an agreed summary of facts, the victim was first confronted by Israel Lama on a street in Auckland's CBD around 4.20am on May 28, 2023, about what he did to his partner earlier that morning. It was later confirmed through CCTV footage viewed as part of the police investigation that the victim did slap Lama's girlfriend's bottom.
At the time, the victim denied the act and was asked to go with the group to check the CCTV at the bar.
The victim agreed, although suspecting that something else would happen.
He was subsequently driven by the group to a house where he would be tortured for hours – after his associate, who followed the offending group's car, was told to stop following.
Once at the house, the victim was made to strip naked and seated in a camping chair; his feet and hands were tied together with electronic cables under the direction of Israel Lama.
Israel Lama then used a Makita electric impact driver, fitted with a screwdriver, to drill three holes in the victim's legs as he was being held down by Jerome, Unasa and Tuaiti.
As Israel Lama drilled, he interrogated the victim about whether he had slapped his girlfriend's bottom earlier, to which the victim continued to deny the act.
Israel Lama later directed others to get toilet paper and tape to treat the victim's wounds.
Israel Lama then used a kitchen knife that was heated on a gas burner to burn the victim's face and chest, as the man was held down by others in the group.
The victim was then asked to get on to the floor, where he was punched and kicked by everyone in the group.
Harder used a metal pole to beat the victim and the pole was passed around the group for others to hit the victim.
'After several blows the aluminium pole bent and became unusable. The defendants complained about this and taunted [the victim] for breaking the pole,' the summary of facts stated.
'They joked about having to beat [the victim] further for breaking their pole.'
The group continued to punch and kick the victim until Israel Lama told them to stop.
Sefilino Fuli Lama and Jerome were not charged in relation to this offence.
Later, Israel Lama poured hot water on to the victim while he was being held down by Unasa, Jerome and Tuaiti.
'[The victim] could not remain still as this occurred and squirmed around in pain,' the summary of facts said.
Israel Lama then poured hot water on to the victim's chest and genitals after he continued to deny slapping Lama's girlfriend's bottom.
Jerome used a hammer to hit the victim's legs, shins and knees repeatedly.
In another round of assault, Israel Lama took the victim's belt and whipped him, before passing the belt to others who took turns whipping the victim.
Samuel Lama also used the belt to strangle the victim for about 10 seconds.
The group rested before Israel Lama returned to further whip the victim with the belt and verbally abused him with racist comments.
'The rest of the offending group were present and encouraged Israel Lama,' the statement of facts said, and added that Lama again handed the belt to others to continue to whip the victim.
While the victim tried to loosen his restraints, Sefilino Fuli Lama struck him twice with the belt and later shaved off parts of the victim's eyebrows.
He also burned the victim's forehead with a lit cigarette.
Israel Lama uploaded videos of the victim being tortured to social media, including the victim being gagged and having hot water poured over him.
'Ol mate here reckons he can slap me Mrs arse in the club,' one of the captions read.
At some point, one of the victim's associates, who was known to Israel Lama, called him to demand release of the man.
Before releasing the victim, Israel Lama told the victim that he owed him $20,000 and asked him to pay before he could release him.
The victim said he didn't have the money but offered to work for Lama to pay it off.
The victim was given food and asked to shower before being handed over to his associates, who then took him to hospital.
The police arrested Israel Lama on June 2, 2023, and discovered on his phone a large number of videos showing the victim being tortured.
Sefilino Fuli Lama, Samuel Lama and Nathan Tuaiti are on bail, while the rest of the group are in custody.
The seven defendants are expected to be sentenced in July.
Each faces up to 14 years' imprisonment for kidnapping and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Three plead guilty in High Court at Auckland to brutal torture, kidnapping
Earlier in May, Head Hunters Motorcycle gang member Israel Lama, whose partner was inappropriately touched by the victim, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and a raft of assault charges. Jade Jerome and King Cobras patched member Nathan Tuaiti also pleaded guilty at that time. Ricky Harder was the earliest to plead guilty in October last year. The victim, while having survived the ordeal, suffered multiple injuries – including burns to his face and chest, wounds to his legs, lacerations over his chest and bruising on his back. He did not report the matter but was discovered by chance by police officers who were at the same hospital attending to another matter. According to an agreed summary of facts, the victim was first confronted by Israel Lama on a street in Auckland's CBD around 4.20am on May 28, 2023, about what he did to his partner earlier that morning. It was later confirmed through CCTV footage viewed as part of the police investigation that the victim did slap Lama's girlfriend's bottom. At the time, the victim denied the act and was asked to go with the group to check the CCTV at the bar. The victim agreed, although suspecting that something else would happen. He was subsequently driven by the group to a house where he would be tortured for hours – after his associate, who followed the offending group's car, was told to stop following. Once at the house, the victim was made to strip naked and seated in a camping chair; his feet and hands were tied together with electronic cables under the direction of Israel Lama. Israel Lama then used a Makita electric impact driver, fitted with a screwdriver, to drill three holes in the victim's legs as he was being held down by Jerome, Unasa and Tuaiti. As Israel Lama drilled, he interrogated the victim about whether he had slapped his girlfriend's bottom earlier, to which the victim continued to deny the act. Israel Lama later directed others to get toilet paper and tape to treat the victim's wounds. Israel Lama then used a kitchen knife that was heated on a gas burner to burn the victim's face and chest, as the man was held down by others in the group. The victim was then asked to get on to the floor, where he was punched and kicked by everyone in the group. Harder used a metal pole to beat the victim and the pole was passed around the group for others to hit the victim. 'After several blows the aluminium pole bent and became unusable. The defendants complained about this and taunted [the victim] for breaking the pole,' the summary of facts stated. 'They joked about having to beat [the victim] further for breaking their pole.' The group continued to punch and kick the victim until Israel Lama told them to stop. Sefilino Fuli Lama and Jerome were not charged in relation to this offence. Later, Israel Lama poured hot water on to the victim while he was being held down by Unasa, Jerome and Tuaiti. '[The victim] could not remain still as this occurred and squirmed around in pain,' the summary of facts said. Israel Lama then poured hot water on to the victim's chest and genitals after he continued to deny slapping Lama's girlfriend's bottom. Jerome used a hammer to hit the victim's legs, shins and knees repeatedly. In another round of assault, Israel Lama took the victim's belt and whipped him, before passing the belt to others who took turns whipping the victim. Samuel Lama also used the belt to strangle the victim for about 10 seconds. The group rested before Israel Lama returned to further whip the victim with the belt and verbally abused him with racist comments. 'The rest of the offending group were present and encouraged Israel Lama,' the statement of facts said, and added that Lama again handed the belt to others to continue to whip the victim. While the victim tried to loosen his restraints, Sefilino Fuli Lama struck him twice with the belt and later shaved off parts of the victim's eyebrows. He also burned the victim's forehead with a lit cigarette. Israel Lama uploaded videos of the victim being tortured to social media, including the victim being gagged and having hot water poured over him. 'Ol mate here reckons he can slap me Mrs arse in the club,' one of the captions read. At some point, one of the victim's associates, who was known to Israel Lama, called him to demand release of the man. Before releasing the victim, Israel Lama told the victim that he owed him $20,000 and asked him to pay before he could release him. The victim said he didn't have the money but offered to work for Lama to pay it off. The victim was given food and asked to shower before being handed over to his associates, who then took him to hospital. The police arrested Israel Lama on June 2, 2023, and discovered on his phone a large number of videos showing the victim being tortured. Sefilino Fuli Lama, Samuel Lama and Nathan Tuaiti are on bail, while the rest of the group are in custody. The seven defendants are expected to be sentenced in July. Each faces up to 14 years' imprisonment for kidnapping and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- RNZ News
Trio plead guilty over kidnapping, torture of man after he slapped gang member's girlfriend's bum
Photo: RNZ / John Edens Three people who were involved in the kidnapping and brutal torture of a man, after he slapped a gang member's girlfriend's bottom at a bar, have pleaded guilty at Auckland's High Court on Wednesday. Harmon Marcellus Unasa, Sefilino Fuli Lama and Samuel Lama were among a group that subjected a stranger to torture at a property in rural Northwest Auckland in 2023, including drilling holes into his legs, hitting him with a pole, and pouring hot water over him. The three pleaded guilty to kidnapping and multiple assault charges before Justice Graham Lang, supported by more than a dozen members of their families, including children. Earlier in May, Head Hunters Motorcycle gang member Israel Lama - whose partner was inappropriately touched by the victim - had pleaded guilty to kidnapping and a raft of assault charges. Jade Jerome and King Cobras patched member Nathan Tuaiti had also pleaded guilty at the time. Ricky Harder was the earliest to plead guilty in October last year. The victim, while having survived the ordeal, suffered multiple injuries - including burns to his face and chest, wounds to his legs, lacerations over his chest, and bruising on his back. He did not report the matter but was discovered by chance by police officers who were at the same hospital attending another matter. According to an agreed summary of facts, the victim was first confronted by Israel Lama on a street in Auckland CBD around 4.20am on 28 May 2023, about what he did to his partner earlier that morning. It was later confirmed through CCTV footage viewed as part of the police investigation that the victim did slap Lama's girlfriend's bottom. At the time, the victim denied the act and was asked to go with the group to check the CCTV at the bar. The victim agreed, although suspecting that something else would happen. He was subsequently driven by the group to a house where he would be tortured for hours - after his associate who followed the offending group's car was told to stop following. Once at the house, the victim was made to strip naked and seated in a camping chair; his feet and hands were tied together with electronic cables under the direction of Israel Lama. Israel Lama then used a Makita electric impact driver, fitted with a screwdriver, to drill three holes in the victim's legs, as he was being held down by Jerome, Unasa and Tuaiti. As Israel Lama drilled, he interrogated the victim on if he'd slapped his girlfriend's bottom earlier, to which the victim continued to deny the act. Lama later directed others to get toilet paper and tape to treat the victim's wounds. Israel Lama then used a kitchen knife that was heated on a gas burner, to burn the victim's face and chest, as the victim was being held down by others in the group. The victim was then asked to get onto the floor, where he was punched and kicked by everyone in the group. Harder used a metal pole to beat the victim, and the pole was then passed around the group for others to hit the victim. "After several blows the aluminium pole bent and became unusable. The defendants complained about this and taunted [the victim] for breaking the pole. "They joked about having to beat [the victim] further for breaking their pole" the summary of facts stated. The group continued to punch and kick the victim until Israel Lama told them to stop. Sefilino Fuli Lama and Jerome were not charged in relation to this offence. Later, Israel Lama poured hot water onto the victim while he was being held down by Unasa, Jerome and Tuaiti. "[The victim] could not remain still as this occurred and squirmed around in pain," the summary of facts said. Israel Lama then poured hot water onto the victim's chest and genitals after he continued to deny slapping Lama's girlfriend's bottom. Jerome used a hammer to hit the victim's legs, shins and knees repeatedly. In another round of assault, Israel Lama took the victim's belt and whipped him, before passing the belt to others who took turns whipping the victim. Samuel Lama also used the belt to strangle the victim for about 10 seconds. The group rested before Israel Lama returned to further whip the victim with the belt and verbally abused him with racist comments. "The rest of the offending group were present and encouraged Israel Lama," the statement of facts said, and added that Lama again handed the belt to others to continue to whip the victim. While the victim tried to loosen his restraints, Sefilino Fuli Lama struck him twice with the belt, and later shaved off parts of the victim's eyebrows. He also burned the victim's forehead with a lit cigarette. Israel Lama uploaded videos of the victim being tortured to social media - including the victim being gagged, and having hot water poured over him. "Ol mate here reckons he can slap me Mrs arse in the club," one of the captions read. At some point, one of the victim's associates known to Israel Lama called him to demand release of the victim. Before releasing the victim, Israel Lama told the victim that he owed him $20,000, and asked him to pay before he could release him. The victim said he didn't have the money but offered to work for Lama to pay it off. The victim was given food and asked to shower before being handed over to his associates, who then took him to hospital. The police arrested Israel Lama on 2 June 2023, and discovered on his phone a large number of videos showing the victim being tortured. Sefilino Fuli Lama, Samuel Lama and Nathan Tuaiti are on bail, while the rest of the group are in custody. The seven defendants are expected to be sentenced in July. Each faces up to 14 years' imprisonment for kidnapping and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
08-05-2025
- 1News
'Mastermind' of multimillion-dollar drug ring jailed for 11 years
The "mastermind" of a drug importation and syndication ring has been jailed for more than 11 years after supplying and sourcing about $11 million worth of drugs into Christchurch from an overseas supplier codenamed "Pinnokkio". Elliot James Mitchell, 29, and another man, Patrick James Moore, 30, were sentenced in the Christchurch District Court today by Judge Tony Zohrab after earlier pleading guilty. Mitchell's offending related to importing cocaine, LSD, MDMA and ketamine into New Zealand as well as supplying the drugs. Moore's offending related to supplying MDMA, cocaine and ketamine. The pair were also charged with participating in an organised criminal group. The head of the group was Mitchell, who worked with Moore and allegedly another man who is still before the courts to distribute Class A, B and C drugs throughout Christchurch. Court documents alleged Mitchell's offending related to $11m worth of drugs. Between October 7, 2022 and March 4, 2023, Mitchell — along with Moore and another man who is before the courts — allegedly worked together with other associates in the implementation and operation of a "controlled drug operation and distribution ring" in Christchurch. The group used other people to receive the imported controlled drugs, paying them between $3000 and $7000 per importation. The drugs came from an unknown source, suspected of being in Europe — codenamed "Pinnokkio" — who Mitchell was liaising with and arranging the importations through. Pinnokkio also advised and helped distribute encrypted cellphones to Mitchell and Moore. Prior to the encrypted phones arriving, they would use end-to-end encrypted messaging applications to communicate with each other. They used different forms of cryptocurrency to launder their funds and profits. The drugs were disguised in various ways, including in fragrances and medicine balls. One of the attempted importations involved about $990,000 of MDMA and was intercepted by United Kingdom authorities in February 2023. Later the following month, Mitchell and another man imported $900,000 worth of MDMA into Christchurch. While talking about the importation with his overseas supplier, Mitchell said the quality of the packaging had improved. The police investigation also revealed a discussion between Mitchell and another man about importing MDMA. Mitchell asked him if he would have more packages delivered to his mother's address for money. The man agreed and said he would have taken the package for free and that he would happily accept $6000. The man asked Mitchell if he had been getting margins from the King Cobras gang and said that $6000 was "life changing". Between November 5, 2022, and March 28, 2023, Mitchell and Moore and the other defendant supplied at least 8kgs of MDMA to the wider Canterbury community, worth about $1.4m. Among the usernames used from people to buy and sell the drugs were "Swineflu", "Pikachu", and "Oliver Twist". Mitchell also admitted meeting with several money remitters in Christchurch, giving them cash he'd obtained from drug dealing to the remitters in exchange for cryptocurrency. He would then send it on to the overseas supplier. When confronted by police, Mitchell said he was not going to name any names or addresses. He said he imported the drugs, and they got dispersed. When asked where and who the drugs went to, he either couldn't remember or didn't want to say. Moore said he only dealt with gram volumes of MDMA to support himself financially after coming off of ACC. Crown prosecutor Penny Brown told the court today that Mitchell was the "ringleader" and the "mastermind" of the drug importation and distribution ring. "He was responsible for the importation and distribution of a staggering amount of MDMA — 47kgs, and then 13kgs of ketamine and also cocaine LSD," she said. It was accepted the total amount of drugs imported and supplied by Mitchell had a street value of about $11m. The quantity of drugs and the value was a "crucial measure" of his culpability and indicated the level of harm and also the level of "commercial gain". "Mr Mitchell was solely motivated by making money and financial gain," Brown said. Brown said Mitchell came from a "loving and supporting" family. "There is to the Crown's mind no nexus between what he's done and his upbringing." In relation to Moore, Brown said he had played a leading role in the onward distribution of drugs, but a lesser role than Mitchell. Brown said there had been mention in submissions about drug use, but the Crown did not accept this is the sort of case that was motivated by addiction that the courts regularly see. Like Mitchell, Moore had enjoyed a "loving upbringing". Mitchell's lawyer, Elizabeth Bulger, told the court that while it was accepted he was the "ringleader", she did not agree with him being called the "mastermind". "But to say a mastermind is to ignore that there was a whole other overseas operation going on which facilitates the passage of drugs into New Zealand which is where his involvement begins," she said. "I think the Crown are over-egging their pudding a bit to call him the mastermind." Bulger said Mitchell had no real reason for his offending, other than an opportunity came his way on a small scale to start with. Once he was in, it was "very difficult to get out of it". She said Mitchell had expressed early on that the arrest came as "something of a relief" as he could no remove himself from it. Mitchell regretted the position he had put his family and friends in, Bulger said. Moore's lawyer, Kerry Cook, said for Moore the offending was "enterprise serious in scale driven by addiction". His life during the time of the offending was "marked by a chaotic existence" and self-isolation from family and pro-social friends, as well as significant drug use. Judge Zohrab told Mitchell his offending was "sophisticated". "Your role was integral. And whether principal, ringleader, mastermind, all the same you were in control completely of the New Zealand operation." From a starting point of 17 years, Judge Zohrab gave reductions for his guilty plea and other factors with a final sentence of 11 years and three months. In relation to Moore, Judge Zohrab said the fact he was charged with only supplying and not importing was an "important distinction" compared to Mitchell. However, Moore still played a "significant and leading role" in the ongoing distribution of the drugs. He was part of the wider commercial-level enterprise and directed others involved in the operation. He did not have any links to the overseas exporters. From a starting point of 10 years and six months, Judge Zohrab gave several discounts for his guilty plea, addiction and rehabilitation, as well as his remorse and time on electronically monitored bail. He jailed Moore to five years and seven months. Several other defendants have also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date. By Sam Sherwood of
