Police are looking for other potential victims following the court appearance of a man accused of drugging and indecently assaulting men at a Kaitaia lodge. Local man Michael Harris, 56, is facing 39 charges including, indecent assault, making and possessing intimate visual recordings and aggravated wounding - in drugging victims to facilitate an indecent assault. Police say the charges relate to 16 adult male victims who stayed at the Mainstreet Lodge in Kaitaia. They are mostly overseas tourists aged between 18 and 25. Harris has been remanded in custody to appear in the Kaitaia District Court on September 18. Many of the victims are believed to have stayed temporarily in the main dwelling, which was the owner's residence at the lodge, over the past two and a half years. The business offers backpacking facilities, hotel units and, on occasion, longer term accommodation in the owner's residence. "It is very important for us to speak to anybody who has stayed in the owner's residence over the last two and a half years,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston. "These victims are unlikely to know that something has happened to them, although they may have suspicions. We will deal sensitively with them and offer all appropriate support required. "This is an ongoing investigation and we have a lot of work ahead to assess evidence and establish if there are further victims we are not yet aware of. We have set up a 0800 number and an email address so that potential victims can get in touch with us.” That number is 0800 SNAP01 or 0800 762 701, or the email address is operationsnap@police.govt.nz
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 10th September 2014 - 4:19pm