A senior police officer alleged to have put a teenager in a cell to teach him a lesson is to be charged with kidnapping.
Te Puea Marae Chairman Hurimoana Dennis. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The officer, Inspector Hurimoana Dennis, is also chairman of Te Puea Memorial Marae in Mangere. Fellow officer Sergeant Vaughan Perry will be charged with being party to a kidnapping.
The incident at the Auckland Central police station last year involved a 17-year-old.
Mr Dennis's lawyer, Steve Bonnar QC, said his client was upset and disappointed, but maintained he was acting in the teenager's best interests.
He said it had been a difficult past year for Mr Dennis since he was stood down from his job during the investigation into the incident.
It is understood the pair will be formally charged within the next two to three weeks.
Police said their investigation into the incident was almost finished.
