The guard appeared in Wellington District Court yesterday. The offending occurred in 2019 when he accepted a bribe to smuggle tobacco, along with other items, to prisoners.

Judge Harrop said that the man was very unlikely to re-offend, and that this offending was completely out of character, as the man had only had one previous offense which was fighting in a public place. Due to his guilty plea, and for his remorse, rehabilitation, and good work in the community since then, the judge made his sentence 8 months home detention and a fine of $4,220.

However, he was also granted name suppression which was opposed by the Crown. For the reason of name suppression, the judge suppressed the arguments beyond reporting that the order has been made under a section of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, which allows name suppression if publishing a person’s name would endanger the safety of any person.

When questioned on this, the judge responded that he did not believe there was a “strong public interest” in those details being made public.

Source: New Zealand Herald

19/11/24