Fishy Smell From Smith Saga

There is something fishy about Corrections and whether they notified victims that murderer and paedophile Phillip John Smith was on temporary release, says New Zealand First.

“On one hand we have a written statement from the Minister of Corrections saying Smith, who escaped to Brazil, was ‘subject’ to the Victim Notification Register,” says Corrections Spokesperson Mahesh Bindra. “Is that a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’?

“On the other, we have the government stating in Parliament today that Smith was on the register.

“However, after his escape victims said they had not been notified that he had been on temporary release

“When did Smith’s name go on the register?

“Why was New Zealand First’s suggestion that Smith’s name might have gone on the register retrospectively avoided in Parliament?

“If Smith’s name was in fact on the register, and the government’s bookwork says the victims were informed of the temporary release, then the system is not working.

“Explanations are necessary otherwise the Department of Corrections will never prioritise the rights of victims.

“The Minister needs to fix this so that it doesn’t happen to more victims,” says Mr Bindra.

ENDS

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