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The All Blacks team manager has told of his shock when a bug was allegedly found in the New Zealand rugby team's Sydney hotel.
Darren Shand, giving evidence via video link from New Zealand, told the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday that he and security consultant Adrian Gard stared at the listening device in disbelief.
Eight people, including members of Sydney's Ibrahim family, will face court accused of taking part in an international drug syndicate that was trying to import almost two tonnes of MDMA and other drugs into Australia.
The NSW Premier has announced new laws which allow the government to move people from public land if they are deemed a safety risk. Vision: Seven News.
Back in 2015, several men were taken into custody following the discovery of footage of an alleged gang-rape on a go-pro camera. (Courtesy Network Ten News)
Adrian Gard faced court over allegations he lied about finding a listening device in the All Blacks hotel room in 2016. Vision: Seven News.
Mr Gard has pleaded not guilty to making up claims about finding the bug secreted in a chair in the team's meeting room last August.
Mr Shand told the court Mr Gard, who has pleaded not guilty to making a false representation resulting in a police investigation into the bug, had worked as a security guard for the All Blacks since about 2005.
He said Mr Gard's role during the All Blacks' stay in the lead-up to the Bledisloe Cup match against Australia on August 20, 2016, was to ensure security for the players at the InterContinental hotel in Double Bay and when they trained at North Sydney Oval.
Mr Shand said Mr Gard had carried out bug sweeps for the team in the past but the team manager decided they needed a new contractor to do the job as they were staying in Sydney for a week, instead of the usual two or three days.
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Mr Shand said that, given the sophisticated listening devices available on the market, he thought if they were going to sweep for bugs they should do the job "thoroughly and properly".
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