A drug charges against Philip Ernest Schubert has been dropped after a High Court judge ordered a stay of proceedings.

 


 

A drug charge against a senior Hells Angels member has been dropped following a court ruling.

Former president of the Auckland branch of the motorcycle gang Philip Ernest Schubert was charged with offering to supply methamphetamine after a covert police operation.

However, Justice Simon France ordered a stay of proceedings in the case against Schubert in the High Court at Auckland on Wednesday, a court official confirmed to NZ Newswire.

Last week, Justice France issued a stay of proceedings on drugs and criminal group charges against the members of the Red Devils Motorcycle Club in Nelson, after police were revealed to have brought a fake prosecution against an undercover officer posing as a bikie.

They used a fake warrant to search the undercover officer's lock-up, and then laid false charges against the officer in an attempt to give him more credibility with the motorcycle club he was infiltrating.

Schubert was arrested as part of that investigation.

Crown Law is considering appealing the ruling.

Schubert told media outside court there was "no substance to the charges in the first place" and he was "100 per cent confident" of defending them should he be required.

He said he would consider seeking legal costs.


 

NZN