Hells Angels pursue rejected lottery plan (NZ)

STEVE KILGALLON

Imagine the Hells Angels running a housie night? No, nor could the Department of Internal Affairs.

It has refused the gang's application for a class three operator's licence – which allows for poker nights, raffles and housie nights – saying the key persons involved in the plan were "not suitable".

The application was a first from a motorbike gang, which was understood to want to run a lottery. The decision is being appealed to the Gambling Commission, because "the department acted outside the scope of the Gambling Act in placing weight on other members not actively involved in the application".

The application was made in the name of The Hells Angels Nomads Motorcycle Club Inc, which Companies' Office records show was registered as an incorporated society this year by Kishor Chandra Singh, who signed himself as vice-president and treasurer.

Singh appeared in court last year, described as a 39-year-old debt collector, charged with possession and intent to supply methamphetamine. He was also arrested last month with another of the signatories to the incorporation, Andrew Sisson, on charges relating to debt collecting.

The department refused an Official Information Act request to elaborate on why they had refused the application. Gambling Commission executive director Blair Cairncross was overseas and uncontactable.