Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Documents Show Police Actively Supported Bail For Terrorist

“Documents released to Sensible Sentencing Trust show that despite knowing the imminent threat terrorist Ahamed Aathill Mohamed Samsudeen posed to the community, Police still actively supported his application to be released into the community on bail,” says Darroch Ball co-leader of Sensible Sentencing Trust.

This support of his release on bail came just three days after Samsudeen was sentenced for possessing ISIS material where the court heard he had “the means and motivation to commit violent acts in the community and, despite not having violently offended to date, as posing a very high risk of harm to others.

“Serious questions need to be asked about why Police did not oppose the application for bail when he posed a clear, direct, and imminent threat to the community.”

“The fact is we have been told that ‘every legal avenue that was available was utilised to keep the community safe’ – this clearly creates a significant contradiction that needs serious scrutiny.”
“Samsudeen was charged with ‘injuring with reckless disregard’ and ‘assault with intent to injure’ after breaking the jaw of a corrections officer while being held in custody.”

“In a ‘Joint Memorandum in Respect of Admission of Bail’ between Police Prosecution and Defence Council dated 9 July, Police state they are ‘not opposed to bail’ if certain conditions were met – unbelievably including that he not ‘offer or threaten violence to anyone’.”

“The fact that Police and intelligence agencies were putting Samsudeen under 24-hour surveillance, that he needed a Special Tactics Group constantly in his vicinity, and up to thirty officers were involved in monitoring him, it indicates the serious danger they knew he posed.”

“It beggars belief Police did not challenge the bail application when Samsudeen was already isolated from the community, controlled in custody, and when he still had active violence charges against him.”

“Support by Police for Samsudeen’s release into the community seems in hindsight, at the very least, a massively gross and costly error in judgement.”
 

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.