14 Oct 2009

Name suppression lifted for accused drug importer

8:55 pm on 14 October 2009

A Wellington man accused of conspiracy to import the drug Fantasy into New Zealand has lost a bid for continued suppression of his name.

Chiropractor Anthony Hugh Close, 29, who was born in the United States, was arrested in June, after an investigation by Police and Customs that indicated more than 300 litres of Fantasy had been imported from China through the mail.

The value of the drugs is put at almost $3 million.

Since then, name suppression has been sought and declined by both the District Court and the High Court.

On Monday, the Court of Appeal declined to hear the case and refused further name suppression.

The accused will reappear in the Wellington District Court in November.