 Bail has been granted to a Christchurch man who claims he was growing 247 cannabis plants in a sophisticated set-up as part of a "research" project.
When Nari I-Yuan Chou, 32, of Bishopdale, pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court last week to a charge of cultivating cannabis, Judge Michael Crosbie remanded him in custody for sentencing in January. Defence counsel Rupert Ward asked for bail to be considered pending sentencing and that hearing was set for this week, with the police asked to provide photographs of the Linwood house growing operation and estimates of the value of the yield. At the time of his arrest – after firefighters entered the rented Stanmore Rd house because water was leaking out and running down the driveway – Chou told police he had been researching how to grow cannabis to get work in the medical cannabis industry in Australia. Details were not allowed to be reported from the bail hearing that was held before Judge Tom Gilbert on Tuesday, but it ended with Chou being granted bail until his sentencing, on conditions that he live at a specified address and not leave New Zealand. Chou will be sentenced on January 16. - stuff.co.nz |
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