Photo: RNZ / John Edens
Three people who were involved in the kidnapping and brutal torture of a man, after he slapped a gang member's girlfriend's bottom at a bar, have pleaded guilty at Auckland's High Court on Wednesday.
Harmon Marcellus Unasa, Sefilino Fuli Lama and Samuel Lama were among a group that subjected a stranger to torture at a property in rural Northwest Auckland in 2023, including drilling holes into his legs, hitting him with a pole, and pouring hot water over him.
The three pleaded guilty to kidnapping and multiple assault charges before Justice Graham Lang, supported by more than a dozen members of their families, including children.
Earlier in May, Head Hunters Motorcycle gang member Israel Lama - whose partner was inappropriately touched by the victim - had pleaded guilty to kidnapping and a raft of assault charges.
Jade Jerome and King Cobras patched member Nathan Tuaiti had also pleaded guilty at the time.
Ricky Harder was the earliest to plead guilty in October last year.
The victim, while having survived the ordeal, suffered multiple injuries - including burns to his face and chest, wounds to his legs, lacerations over his chest, and bruising on his back.
He did not report the matter but was discovered by chance by police officers who were at the same hospital attending another matter.
According to an agreed summary of facts, the victim was first confronted by Israel Lama on a street in Auckland CBD around 4.20am on 28 May 2023, about what he did to his partner earlier that morning. It was later confirmed through CCTV footage viewed as part of the police investigation that the victim did slap Lama's girlfriend's bottom.
At the time, the victim denied the act and was asked to go with the group to check the CCTV at the bar.
The victim agreed, although suspecting that something else would happen.
Victim had holes drilled into his legs
He was subsequently driven by the group to a house where he would be tortured for hours - after his associate who followed the offending group's car was told to stop following.
Once at the house, the victim was made to strip naked and seated in a camping chair; his feet and hands were tied together with electronic cables under the direction of Israel Lama.
Israel Lama then used a Makita electric impact driver, fitted with a screwdriver, to drill three holes in the victim's legs, as he was being held down by Jerome, Unasa and Tuaiti.
As Israel Lama drilled, he interrogated the victim on if he'd slapped his girlfriend's bottom earlier, to which the victim continued to deny the act.
Lama later directed others to get toilet paper and tape to treat the victim's wounds.
Israel Lama then used a kitchen knife that was heated on a gas burner, to burn the victim's face and chest, as the victim was being held down by others in the group.
The victim was then asked to get onto the floor, where he was punched and kicked by everyone in the group.
Harder used a metal pole to beat the victim, and the pole was then passed around the group for others to hit the victim.
"After several blows the aluminium pole bent and became unusable. The defendants complained about this and taunted [the victim] for breaking the pole.
"They joked about having to beat [the victim] further for breaking their pole" the summary of facts stated.
The group continued to punch and kick the victim until Israel Lama told them to stop.
Sefilino Fuli Lama and Jerome were not charged in relation to this offence.
Later, Israel Lama poured hot water onto the victim while he was being held down by Unasa, Jerome and Tuaiti.
"[The victim] could not remain still as this occurred and squirmed around in pain," the summary of facts said.
Israel Lama then poured hot water onto the victim's chest and genitals after he continued to deny slapping Lama's girlfriend's bottom.
Jerome used a hammer to hit the victim's legs, shins and knees repeatedly.
In another round of assault, Israel Lama took the victim's belt and whipped him, before passing the belt to others who took turns whipping the victim.
Samuel Lama also used the belt to strangle the victim for about 10 seconds.
The group rested before Israel Lama returned to further whip the victim with the belt and verbally abused him with racist comments.
"The rest of the offending group were present and encouraged Israel Lama," the statement of facts said, and added that Lama again handed the belt to others to continue to whip the victim.
While the victim tried to loosen his restraints, Sefilino Fuli Lama struck him twice with the belt, and later shaved off parts of the victim's eyebrows.
He also burned the victim's forehead with a lit cigarette.
Video of assault uploaded to social media
Israel Lama uploaded videos of the victim being tortured to social media - including the victim being gagged, and having hot water poured over him.
"Ol mate here reckons he can slap me Mrs arse in the club," one of the captions read.
At some point, one of the victim's associates known to Israel Lama called him to demand release of the victim.
Before releasing the victim, Israel Lama told the victim that he owed him $20,000, and asked him to pay before he could release him.
The victim said he didn't have the money but offered to work for Lama to pay it off.
The victim was given food and asked to shower before being handed over to his associates, who then took him to hospital.
The police arrested Israel Lama on 2 June 2023, and discovered on his phone a large number of videos showing the victim being tortured.
Sefilino Fuli Lama, Samuel Lama and Nathan Tuaiti are on bail, while the rest of the group are in custody.
The seven defendants are expected to be sentenced in July.
Each faces up to 14 years' imprisonment for kidnapping and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
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