24 Nov 2020

Mongrel Mob gang member jailed for cutting off GPS anklet

12:18 pm on 24 November 2020

A Mongrel Mob member who started a nationwide police search after cutting off his GPS anklet to attend a gang event has pleaded guilty to breaching his release conditions.

John-Boy Rakete

John-Boy Rakete. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police

John-Boy Rakete was jailed for two years for a 2018 assault which left a 43-year-old man in a vegetative state.

Rakete punched the man outside a Dunedin petrol station, causing him to smash his head as he fell.

As the man lay convulsing, Rakete poured a soft drink over his face.

The victim died 14 months later, but the law at the time of the attack prevented the police from laying further charges.

Rakete was released from jail in September but earlier this month cut off his monitoring anklet.

The 27-year-old was arrested last week after almost a fortnight on the run.

He will be returned to jail for three months.