Otago
Daily Times
February 16, 2004
Clark backs police action over rape allegations
Another top officer stood down
by Kevin Norquay, of NZPA
Wellington: It was
"appropriate" for police to take their own action over pack rape
allegations involving their own, Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday,
after inquiries claimed another top level officer.
Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas has alleged she was pack-raped by Clint Rickards,
Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton.
Mr Rickards,
Mr Rickards has already stood down from his job.
Mrs Nicholas has said there was a fourth man present at the alleged pack rape.
Mr Powell was not the fourth man, Police Commissioner Rob Robinson said in a
statement.
He did not say why Mr Powell had been stood down, only
that he was "an individual of interest" to investigations into the
allegations.
He would not expand for fear of prejudicing the inquiry, he said.
Ms Clark this month ordered an independent commission of inquiry to look into
the allegations, even though police had reopened their investigation.
Ms Clark told NZPA Mr Robinson had left a message for her about Mr Powell, but
she had yet to be briefed on it.
"I'm simply assuming it is on a matter relating to the inquiry, and I'm
very pleased we're having an inquiry," she said.
"As the allegations keep coming and nobody has sued anyone yet - which is
always significant - then the police are taking their own action, and that's
appropriate.
"I personally think the commissioner won't leave a stone unturned."
Mrs Nicholas said it was a "complete mystery" why Mr Powell had been
stood down, which came after Mr Powell was interviewed on Thursday by police
conducting the inquiry.
Detective Inspector Bruce Scott has taken command of the
Mr Powell told the Sunday Star-Times he had no comment.
Mr Powell's first job was as an 18-year-old constable at the Rotorua police
station.
The Sunday Star-Times understood he also worked for a short time at the Murupara police station, in the same region.
Mr Powell was among 30 people interviewed in the past week by eight officers
from outside the Rotorua police district.
Messrs Shipton, Schollum and Rickards are yet to be interviewed.
Police Minister George Hawkins said the stand down of Mr Powell would
"heighten" public confidence in the police.