Gang leader jailed for P.O. robberies

Press, 14 February 1986, Page 8

Gang leader jailed for P.O. robberies

PA Auckland A Mongrel Mob leader, Graham Toko Manahi, has been jailed for 514 years for taking part in two post office robberies which netted $25,000. The sentence will be served in conjunction with a five-year term for robbing another post office of

$12,000, attempting to rob a dairy, possessing a sawn-off shotgun, and intimidating a witness. At a trial last September, the jury failed to reach a verdict on charges that Manahi robbed the House Park Post Office in Mangere of $2775 in July, 1984, and about $22,000 in December, 1984. In the High Court at Auckland, Manahi, aged 23, admitted the July robbery. After prompting from his counsel, Mr Paul Trehey, he also said “guilty” to the December robbery charge and a charge of unlawfully getting into a Valiant car used in the December robbery.' Manahi signed over to the Crown as restitution two motor-cycles valued at $5500, bought with the proceeds of the robbery. Mr Justice Chilwell said that 177 days would be deducted from the sentence for time Manahi

had already spent in prison. He sentenced him to four years for the July robbery, one year for the vehicle offence and years for the December robbery. In July, 1984, Manahi instructed prospective Mongrel Mob members to carry out crimes arranged by him. On July 19 he instructed Albert Tamiana to rob the post office at knifepoint. When Tamiana tried to back out, Manahi told him to do so or “face the consequences.” Tamiana was given $2OO of the proceeds and Manahi took the rest. Tamiana was jailed for 3y 2 years. On December 5 Manahi and two persons unknown held up the same post office with softball bats.

Mr Trehey said that since the accused was jailed he had married and his wife had given him a stability sadly lacking in his teen-age and adult years.