This is now a common process with the courts and MPI

To: The Registrar / Presiding Judge
Court: invercargill 
Proceeding: [Insert case name and CRI/CIV number]
Applicant / Defendant: SIMON STOTT
Filed by: Tracy Lynch, Attorney / Authorised Agent
Date: 22 may 2026

Purpose of Filing

This cover sheet is filed to draw the Court’s attention to the attached correspondence sent to the Ministry for Primary Industries concerning unresolved disclosure, seized property reconciliation, Property Record Sheets, chain-of-custody records, and certification of MPI’s seizure/disclosure record.

The attached correspondence records that MPI has been repeatedly asked to provide a complete and accountable response concerning Operation Thalassa, including:

1. what MPI took;
2. what statutory authority was relied upon;
3. where each item is now;
4. what has been returned;
5. what has been retained;
6. what has been dismantled, destroyed, transferred, disposed of, or omitted;
7. the complete Property Record Sheet / seizure register position;
8. chain-of-custody, storage, handling, transfer, disposal, or destruction records; and
9. whether all disclosure has been provided in a fixed, indexed, complete, and court-usable form.

Issue for the Court

The concern is that the defence / affected party is continuing to request disclosure and property-reconciliation material that appears directly relevant to the proceedings, but the requests have not been answered in a complete, certified, and accountable way.

The attached letter expressly asks MPI to provide a formal accountable response or, if MPI refuses to certify the completeness and accuracy of the seizure register, Property Record Sheets, disclosure record, and chain-of-custody material, to say so expressly and identify the officer responsible for that position.  

Notification Requested

The filing party respectfully asks that this material be placed before the Judge so the Court is aware that:

1. disclosure and seized-property reconciliation issues remain unresolved;
2. formal requests for complete records and certification are continuing;
3. MPI has been asked to identify an accountable decision-maker;
4. the issue is not limited to prosecution evidence, but extends to property, business, financial, technical, intellectual property, and asset-reconciliation material; and
5. the unresolved position may affect the fairness, completeness, and reliability of the proceedings.

Relief / Direction Sought

The filing party respectfully asks the Court to note the attached correspondence and, if appropriate, direct MPI / the prosecution to respond formally to the outstanding disclosure and property-reconciliation issues, including by confirming whether a complete seizure register, Property Record Sheet bundle, disclosure schedule, and chain-of-custody record will be provided and certified.

Attached

Attachment A: Formal follow-up correspondence to Gillon Carruthers / MPI regarding Operation Thalassa disclosure, seized property reconciliation, and accountability.

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Filed by:
Tracy Lynch
Attorney / Authorised Agent
InLandsAirWater Counsel – Private Trust
For records and on instructions