|
|
Allegations
of Sexual Abuse |
|
|
|
|
An inquiry has been launched
into allegations a woman was sexually violated by an off-duty police officer
at a party in Mount Maunganui - the latest of several cases to rock the
force. Western Bay of Plenty
police area commander, Inspector Murray Lewis, confirmed an investigation was
being led by Rotorua-based detective inspector Garth Bryan into a complaint
of sexual violation against a Tauranga officer. Mr Lewis was unable to
confirm the rank of the officer, or when he was stood down. He refused to
comment further on the inquiry. A spokesman for the
office of the police commissioner in Wellington, Jon Neilson, said the
accused officer was on full pay while under investigation. He did not know
how long the inquiry would take. The incident is the
latest in a string of allegations made against Bay police officers. Tauranga
constable Fredrick Follas is awaiting trial after allegedly sexually
violating a massage parlour worker in the women's showers at Tauranga police
station a year ago. Mr Follas has pleaded
not guilty and is due to stand trial in the High Court at Rotorua next month.
An internal inquiry
into alleged misconduct by Sergeant Keith Elliott is continuing after he was
stood down last October from his position as a police prosecutor in the
Tauranga District Court. Mr Elliott's son,
Greerton constable Matthew Elliott, has resumed work after a drink driving
charge was thrown out of court for a second time. He was allegedly stopped by
police at a check-point in June 2003 and found to be almost twice the legal
alcohol limit. The charge was
initially thrown out of court because the arresting policewoman failed to
give a vital brief of evidence to the defence, then again last month because
a defence lawyer letter sent to the Police Commissioner's office requesting a
second blood sample went missing. Meanwhile, former policeman and Tauranga City Councillor Brad Shipton faces a charge of illegally possessing a Colt .45 calibre pistol allegedly found in his home last July. The 46-year-old has pleaded not guilty and will defend the charge at a hearing in the district court on February 15. |
