BY: MICHELLE ROBINSON
stuff.co.nz
New Zealand - A senior Hells Angels gang member charged with unlawful debt collecting has been granted bail. Andrew Joseph Sisson, 51, of Helensville, was supported by family members and supporters when he appeared in the North Shore District Court yesterday.
Sisson was among three Hells Angels members arrested after allegedly using a document titled 'warrant to repossess' to take a Toyota Hilux ute and Dingo Digger from an undercover police officer.
The officer was posing as a debt-struck person under the name William Baker.
Two other members jointly charged with aggravated robbery in relation to the incident were Kishor Chandra Singh and Wayne Brendon, who had earlier appeared in the Manukau District Court.
A fourth man, 21-year-old Nathan Scott Hampton-Burgess, appeared at the North Shore District Court on Friday on a charge of aggravated robbery.
Sisson faces several other related charges, including the theft of a Suzuki quad bike from an Auckland couple. The charges relate to Sisson's involvement in the companies Rapid Recovery 2010 Ltd and Dirty Debtors Ltd - which had a website to name and shame people owing debt.
He also faces charges of possession of three firearms including a Ruger bolt action .243, Ruger bolt action .308, a .22 rifle and 650 bullets.
Through his lawyer Peter Kaye he gave indication he would defend the charges.
Sisson was today granted bail at his home where he lived with his wife Vikki and teenage family after having been remanded in custody on Friday.
The court heard that police opposed bail because of Sisson's "seniority" within the Hells Angels.
Police were also concerned that Sisson would interfere with witnesses or prevent others from coming forward, and that he would continue working for the businesses.
But Judge David McNaughton said there was no evidence that Sisson would intimidate any witnesses.
He said the witnesses potentially knew ''who they were dealing with'' at the time.
Sisson's defence lawyer Peter Kaye said Sisson had approached police to ask about the legalities of repossessing property.
He had since said he had ''no intention of continuing with the business''.
Judge McNaughton asked about having the Dirty Debtors Ltd website removed but changed his mind when told by Kaye that it was not controlled by Sisson.
The judge ordered Sisson to reside at his Helensville home until his next appearance on September 26.
Sisson was ordered not to associate with debt collectors from the two companies, or work alone as a debt collector or use anyone else to work as collectors under his instructions.
He was ordered to not associate with witnesses or with Hells Angels members.
Sisson was among three Hells Angels members arrested after allegedly using a document titled 'warrant to repossess' to take a Toyota Hilux ute and Dingo Digger from an undercover police officer.
The officer was posing as a debt-struck person under the name William Baker.
Two other members jointly charged with aggravated robbery in relation to the incident were Kishor Chandra Singh and Wayne Brendon, who had earlier appeared in the Manukau District Court.
A fourth man, 21-year-old Nathan Scott Hampton-Burgess, appeared at the North Shore District Court on Friday on a charge of aggravated robbery.
Sisson faces several other related charges, including the theft of a Suzuki quad bike from an Auckland couple. The charges relate to Sisson's involvement in the companies Rapid Recovery 2010 Ltd and Dirty Debtors Ltd - which had a website to name and shame people owing debt.
He also faces charges of possession of three firearms including a Ruger bolt action .243, Ruger bolt action .308, a .22 rifle and 650 bullets.
Through his lawyer Peter Kaye he gave indication he would defend the charges.
Sisson was today granted bail at his home where he lived with his wife Vikki and teenage family after having been remanded in custody on Friday.
The court heard that police opposed bail because of Sisson's "seniority" within the Hells Angels.
Police were also concerned that Sisson would interfere with witnesses or prevent others from coming forward, and that he would continue working for the businesses.
But Judge David McNaughton said there was no evidence that Sisson would intimidate any witnesses.
He said the witnesses potentially knew ''who they were dealing with'' at the time.
Sisson's defence lawyer Peter Kaye said Sisson had approached police to ask about the legalities of repossessing property.
He had since said he had ''no intention of continuing with the business''.
Judge McNaughton asked about having the Dirty Debtors Ltd website removed but changed his mind when told by Kaye that it was not controlled by Sisson.
The judge ordered Sisson to reside at his Helensville home until his next appearance on September 26.
Sisson was ordered not to associate with debt collectors from the two companies, or work alone as a debt collector or use anyone else to work as collectors under his instructions.
He was ordered to not associate with witnesses or with Hells Angels members.
