Human rights organisation People Against Prisons Aotearoa says a prisoner they advocate for has had 9 boxes of legal documents seized from him just days before his case against the Department of Corrections was to be heard.
The Judicial Review he is seeking is in response to what he says is years of deliberate obstruction to his appeal against his initial convictions. This includes denying him access to facilities, other instances of seizing his legal documents, and destroying evidence.
“Our advocates have emailed Corrections and have been told he has access to his legal documents,” says PAPA spokeswoman Emilie Rākete. “But this prisoner says he only has access to one box. Everything has been repacked, important documents are missing, and he was only given limited access after our advocates emailed.”
“Corrections is telling us half-truths and trying to cover up its intentional disruption of due process,” says Rākete. “Corrections doesn’t want this prisoner to win. It wants to continue its corrupt practices and deny prisoners their human rights with no accountability.”
“Our efforts to appeal to Corrections, the Ombudsman, and government ministers hasn’t resulted in any meaningful intervention. Everybody has the legal right to be heard and treated fairly in court. Corrections is not allowing this man that right, and its watchdogs are proving themselves to be completely useless when it comes to protecting prisoners’ human rights.”
“All of this man’s documentation must be returned to him immediately. This prisoner, and all prisoners, must be provided the facilities needed to prepare their cases without obstruction.”
