Justice for sale

Wealthy child abuse offender seems to buy name suppression

New Zealand should be disgusted. A 46-year-old member of a wealthy family has been convicted of possessing and importing over 11,000 files of child sexual abuse material, including videos of toddlers being tortured, children being urinated on, and sadistic sexual acts involving pre-pubescent girls. Despite the seriousness of these crimes, their identity has been permanently suppressed. Not only their own name, but also their family name and the name of their high-profile company.

To make matters worse, this offender managed to shave their sentence down to just two years and five months in prison – after Judge Maria Pecotic handed out a massive 56% discount. Why? Because of so-called “good character,” mental health claims, remorse, and most shockingly, a $50,000 “donation” to two charities. That seems to me more like a bribe in exchange for leniency.

In New Zealand, it appears if you come from money, you can commit the most revolting crimes imaginable and still hide behind permanent name suppression. The ordinary man or woman would never get this kind of protection. Their names would be splashed across every newspaper and news site in the country.

Nobody is arguing against temporary name suppression to protect the right to a fair trial. But once convicted, there should be no question – the public has a right to know who committed these vile acts. Hiding the offender’s name serves no one but them and their wealthy family. Meanwhile, victims of abuse in this country get no such protection. They carry scars for life while predators get anonymity.

Judge Pecotic should hang her head in shame. By allowing permanent suppression and slashing the sentence, she has sent a message thatin New Zealand, if you are rich and connected, the system will shield you. Justice is not blind here, it is for sale.

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