21 Sep 2020

Soldier sentenced to detention still in army, despite saying he would leave

From Morning Report, 7:50 am on 21 September 2020

A soldier sentenced to military detention for multiple assault charges is still serving in the New Zealand Army, despite him telling a court he would leave.

Private Manu Taufa was sentenced to 28 days military detention at Burnham in October last year, after pleading guilty to four charges of assault.

At the court martial, he told the judge that he would leave the army at the end of his sentence, but RNZ can reveal that he is still serving at the Burnham Military Camp, nearly a year on.

Christchurch reporter Anan Zaki has been looking into this and speaks to Susie Ferguson.