How Much Have We Forked Out On Rapist?

Monday 28 Jun 2004

Stephen Franks - Press Releases - Crime & Justice

ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks today wrote to Corrections Minister Paul Swain and Justice Minister Phil Goff, asking how much rapist Faamanatuga Seumanutafa has cost taxpayers in his bid to avoid deportation.

"This is an open and shut case. Seumanutafa - also known as Junior Schuster - should have been deported at the end of his sentence without the slightest interruption," Mr Franks said.

"But he wasn't. He requested that the Deportation Review Tribunal overturn his deportation order - an opportunity he should never have had to begin with.

"Firstly, by refusing to accept his guilt in relation to one of his victims, Seumanutafa should never have been paroled. Secondly, he should not have had the option of appealing to the Tribunal.

"It is time to make it clear that deportation follows conviction for the relevant offences, as night follows day. Seumanutafa's a crime has damaged the lives of two young innocents. Why should taxpayers' have to fork out legal aid for a criminal who shouldn't even be here?

"Presumably, this is a typical case. We should know just how much we've had to pay to help a criminal remain in this country when he should have been sent back where he came from immediately," Mr Franks said.

ENDS

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