Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections Spokesman

4 July 2007

Slack prison system lets man walk early

Corrections Minister Damien O’Connor must explain how a man once reportedly described as an ‘extremely violent Black Power gang associate’ was released from prison by mistake, 10 days into a six-month sentence, says National’s Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.

Faalilo Faalilo was released on Monday but told yesterday he had to return to jail to serve his sentence for drink-drive offences. In 1999 he was acquitted of attempted murder in what police said was a dispute between Black Power and a Tongan group.

“This is very concerning because it means there’s a hole in the system that could let almost any criminal of any type back into an unsuspecting community.

“That hole is so bad that when Faalilo apparently asked why he was being released early, he says he didn’t get a clear answer – he blew the whistle on himself and still they didn’t wake up.

“It is also concerning that Corrections seems to be saying they are happy that their ‘double-checking’ process spotted the mistake, when they should be much more concerned about the process that let this happen in the first place.

“We were fortunate that the slackness in the system didn't have disastrous consequences – we may not be so lucky next time.

“We need an assurance from Damien O’Connor that this hole has been plugged.”

ENDS

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