Tourist bashing accused kept in custody

The men accused of robbing two French tourists in Tauranga have been remanded in custody.

A Mount Maunganui man, 24, who has name suppression, and Bo Rawiri, 26, of Ngaruawahia, appeared in Tauranga District Court today charged with aggravated robbery.

No pleas were entered on the charges and both men were remanded in custody to reappear in court on August 8.

The 21-year-old tourists were hitchhiking from Mt Maunganui to Rotorua when they were picked up by two men in a car at about 4pm on July 7.

They were driven down State Highway 2 to an abandoned Shell petrol station near Papamoa where they were taken around the back and allegedly robbed and beaten. They suffered minor injuries and had their money, passports and clothing stolen.

Police arrested two men on Tuesday following search warrants at two Tauranga properties.

The tourists have since continued on their New Zealand holiday.

SunLive