By Lloyd Burr
Two of the three men who broke into the Waihopai spy base and deflated a satellite dome in 2008 have appeared in Wellington High Court today for a preliminary hearing as the Government tries to recover costs.
Teacher Adrian Leason, priest Peter Murnane and farmer Sam Land were found not guilty of burglary and wilful damage when they cut through electric fences to get into the spy base but the Government is now chasing an estimated repair bill of $1.2 million.
Today Mr Leason and Mr Murnane, who were wearing daffodils “signifying peace and non-violence”, appeared for the proceedings but both say the Government is wasting its time because they have no money.
Mr Leason says he has no moral obligation to pay the bill and it’s his effort to “inspire in the Judge a sense of curiosity in the law and a curiosity that secrecy is not ok. We don’t keep secrets in New Zealand”.
He says repairing the base is not necessary because it is illegal and the case is “just about the Government saving face”.
Both Mr Leason and Mr Murnane say today’s hearing adds to the publicity of the Government Communications Security Bureau and say they have successfully embarrassed the Government.
But neither of the men have any money and cannot pay the Government to repair the spy base.
Mr Munane says “I’m a pensioner so they might just dock my pension for the next 500 years but I don’t think I will last that long”
Green Party MP Keith Locke says the Government should drop the case.
He says it’s a waste of time and the Crown is being vindictive after losing their last case against the trio.
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