Another home detention fiasco

National is demanding that the Government justifies why a $2 million fraudster on home detention is working in the same sort of business where he committed fraud in the past and is paying no reparation.

"Why is the Labour Government letting this happen and why won't they stop it?," asks National’s Law and Order spokesman, Tony Ryall.

The fraudster’s victims are also upset that he is generating an income while on home detention but is not having to pay reparation.

Mr Ryall says media reports today on the case of the former Auckland company director show that home detention risks becoming a “soft pass” for white collar criminals.

"This is just the latest in a stream of home detention fiascoes. The Government's incompetence is destroying any worth that home detention may have.”

The photocopier salesman was convicted of multiple fraud counts and, despite reportedly having a previous conviction and facing a maximum jail term of 10 years, was sentenced to 18 months. He was granted home detention and is able to continue to work in his profession with the consent of his probation officer.

“The system is supposed to be stopping people going back to the environment where they committed their offending.

“Here we have the Government sanctioning the complete opposite of what people normally expect.

“I cannot believe that this man, who ripped off not only his clients but his business partner as well, is able to work and not make any sort of reparation at all.

"National will make reparation an absolute priority and necessity," Mr Ryall says.

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