Former Home and Away actor Putu Winchester faces drug charges in PNG

[Mishyy]

A FORMER Home and Away actor has pleaded not guilty to possessing almost half a kilogram of marijuana on a surfing charter in Papua New Guinea.

Putu Winchester, 33, who once played a surfer called Pongo on Home and Away, was arrested with four other Australians on March 19 in Buka, the centre of Bougainville province in PNG's east.

Winchester - who was also in gritty teenage drama Heartbreak High and police series Water Rats - and friends Thomas Olsen, 43, Clayton McDonald, 33, and Michael O'Neil, 41, on Monday pleaded not guilty to possessing 470 grams of marijuana allegedly found on the 16.5-metre surf charter Perenti.

Friends of the four men from NSW believe the quantity should be closer to 47 grams, claiming a recording error when local police weighed the alleged stash at the Buka post office.

Queenslander and Perenti captain Michael Northcote, 46, is waiting for a lawyer to fly in from PNG's capital Port Moresby before entering a plea.

PNG's customs services seized Mr Northcote's boat and AAP understands customs and immigration infringements may follow.

The "Perenti five" were en route from the Solomon Islands as part of RASTA, "Real adventure surf tours Australia".

According to the RASTA website the Perenti has sailed the Pacific on surfing tours for the past eight years.

The website advertises: "Sail aboard Perenti, where you will find the surf of your dreams".

But that dream turned into a nightmare when Bougainville police arrested the men and put them in jail, forcing them to spend a harrowing weekend locked up with hardened criminals known as "rascals".

On March 22, the Buka court granted the men each 1,000 kina ($A400) bail and they have been staying at a local hotel.

A representative from the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby has visited the five men, providing consular assistance and will monitor the court proceedings.

Source

[adellejefferiesxox]

It's not looking good with the track record of former/current home and away actor/actresses who have possessed drugs. Some of those who are well known are considered role models to some. Plus drugs are a waste of money and time.

[Mistified]

Pongo?

[alexx]

He's way more memorable for his Heartbreak High role where he was a permanent cast member for years. They are just using that H&A link so people read the article.

[~Lynd~]

Ok...Talk about using anythinng to make a story,what was he an extra or something?

[Formerly Known as FKAJ]

So he's a former Home and Away actor the same way Skylar DeLeon was a former Power Ranger?

[Dan F]

It really is pathetic the way they use H&A just to sell the story - he was a bit-part in TWO episodes in 2000 as a surfer on the pro-am circuit that convinced Sam to join him (consequently getting Sam involved in drugs).

Heck even Pongo's van appeared in more scenes than Pongo did, when Sam returned later that year!

[Mistified]

^ It's actually potentially quite damaging for them to link drug stories to H&A like this.

[Dan F]

That's probably the idea. Any hint of a link to H&A and they pounce on it and use it as a headline.

Next we'll probably have 'Drug Baron linked to H&A Star' - and it will be a bloke who once had a dog who he bought off a cleaner, who used to work for Ada's mother or suchlike.*

*Disclaimer: Purely hypothetical, I do not know Ada's mother, or whether she had a cleaner that use to breed dogs

[Mistified]

That's probably the idea. Any hint of a link to H&A and they pounce on it and use it as a headline.

Next we'll probably have 'Drug Baron linked to H&A Star' - and it will be a bloke who once had a dog who he bought off a cleaner, who used to work for Ada's mother or suchlike.*

*Disclaimer: Purely hypothetical, I do not know Ada's mother, or whether she had a cleaner that use to breed dogs

I get your point, and I like the over-exaggeration for emphasis aspect too.

Such shoddy journalism on behalf of whomever wrote, edited and ultimately published that article