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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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A Te Awamutu man told
the army in 1982 about cadet abuse -- including severe daily beatings and
cadets being burnt with an iron. Defence Minister Mark
Burton has announced an urgent investigation into allegations of what went on
at the Regular Force Cadet school in Waiouru. The school, established
in 1948, was closed in 1991. The allegations
surfaced after a former cadet and army officer, Ian Fraser, put a report
about his investigations into abuses at the school on the internet. Mr Fraser alleges cases
of bullying and assault were widespread and said he had evidence of rapes and
sexual assault. Other claims emerged over the deaths of two men. Mike Subritzky, a
former recruiter for the school and Te Awamutu man, said he raised concerns
with the army about abuses after he discovered injuries suffered by his
nephew, John Subritzky, a cadet in 1982. "His back was covered in scars.
After a lot of persuading I learnt that beatings were a routine part of life
at the cadet school." Mike Subritzky said he
told the commanding officer, Major Wayne Anker, and an investigation was
launched. Four cadets were disciplined. John Subritzky, now of
Katikati, said he had been warned of what was to come when he encountered
some cadets in a school rugby match a year before he joined up. "I bumped into a
couple in 1981, they said they'd be waiting for me when I got there in the
junior class of 1982. "I was in for a
shock when I arrived. Beatings happened every day for the first three
months." Mr Subritzky said
beatings were common but more sinister punishments were also meted out.
"I personally witnessed a roommate in the upright push-up position burnt
with a steam iron. Another method was to line up all the junior cadets in the
corridor. We'd be made to stand on one foot and then punched. Anyone who fell
over received a kicking." John Subritzky said one
day he retaliated. "A cadet corporal came in to beat me. I smacked him
with a padlock in my hand. He went away and came back with four mates to deal
to me." But his roommates came to his rescue and they beat the
attackers. Mike Subritzky said a
number of cadets he recruited died during training and it had left him with
an uneasy feeling about the school for many years. In February 1981 Cadet
Grant Bain, 17, of Te Awamutu, died after he was shot in the neck by Cadet
Corporal Andrew Read, with an M16 rifle. Mr Bain's Te
Awamutu-based brother, Murray Bain, believes the army covered up his
brother's death. The Bain family were
told their son had died in hospital when he had actually died at the scene.
The family found out when a friend attending a basic training course saw a
photo of Mr Bain lying dead on the barrack's floor as part of a lesson. Andrew Read, 17 at the
time, was charged with careless use of a firearm causing death and was fined
$200 and ordered to serve 200 hours' community service. Mike Subritzky said
that in 1982 a cadet died in an ammunition explosion. -------------------- CAPTION: MIKE
SUBRITZKY: Raised concerns with army. |
