Detectives working on Operation Rendall, the investigation into the June 19 murder of Bhagubhai Vaghela and a series of armed robberies in west and central Auckland this month, last night arrested a 32 year-old Massey man.
He will appear in the Waitakere District Court this afternoon where he will be charged with being murder accused's James Lawrie's accomplice in the armed robbery at Valley Wine Merchants, Henderson, on June 11.
He will also be charged with the aggravated wounding of a customer during that robbery.
The Operation Rendall investigation team will request he be remanded in custody to appear with James Lawrie in the Auckland District Court on July 8.
Appeals for information about the whereabouts of Vietnamese national Minh Hong Nguyen, who is in breach of bail conditions by not living at the bail address in Manukau Heights he provided to the Courts, have resulted in some calls to the inquiry team .
Mr Nguyen is 32 years old, 172 cm tall and is on bail for drugs related charges. He is the owner of a dark blue 1993 BMW car which was seized by the Operation Rendall investigators late last week.
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589
Website: www.police.govt.nz