Ava Young gets home detention for exploiting Thai worker in sex industry
A Christchurch employer who falsely claimed a Thai worker was a relative to get her into New Zealand has been sentenced to four months' home detention.
Immigration NZ (INZ) said Ava Young falsely supported the woman's visitor visa, then charged her about $7500 for
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Otago Daily Times
13 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Minister briefed on death of baby found in bin
A police investigator inspects a set of bins at the scene in Renall St Auckland. Photo: RNZ By Sam Sherwood of RNZ The Minister for Mental Health has been briefed on the death of a baby found in a wheelie bin in Auckland. A 32-year-old woman has been charged with interfering with human remains between June 24 and 30. Police have been investigating since officers located the body of a newborn baby in a wheelie bin outside an address on Renall St, Freemans Bay on Tuesday night. A spokesperson for Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey confirmed to RNZ his office had been made aware of the case under the "no surprises policy". "The Minister acknowledges this tragedy, and his thoughts are with all involved," the spokesperson said. Doocey was unable to comment further at this time. Health New Zealand (HNZ) acting northern region deputy chief executive Mike Shepherd said in a statement HNZ would not be commenting on the specifics of the case for privacy reasons. "We acknowledge this very sad situation and offer our sympathies to the whānau and community," he said. "We can say that HNZ routinely reviews the care it provides when any serious event occurs." An Oranga Tamariki spokesperson said as the matter was before the courts and subject to an active police investigation, they were unable to comment. A spokesperson for the Minister for Children Karen Chhour said it would be inappropriate to comment at this time. On Thursday, Detective Inspector Scott Beard said a post-mortem examination was carried out on the baby on Wednesday, the results of which are still pending. Police were still investigating at the property on Renall St. "Our enquiries remain ongoing and it will take some time for a thorough investigation to be completed," Beard said. "We are continuing to ask for those in the community that might have information or CCTV footage that could assist us to get in touch." The woman is due to appear on July 31 and enter a plea. Until then, she has been voluntarily remanded in custody and given interim name suppression. Beard earlier said the case was a "tragedy for everyone concerned". "There is a person's wellbeing to consider here alongside the investigation, so we will ensure the woman gets the support she needs." Anyone with information that could assist the investigation, is asked to make a report via 105, using the file number 250630/9878 and quote 'Operation Yarrow'. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or
Otago Daily Times
15 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
22 tenants in five-bedroom home: Queenstown landlord fined $113k
A Queenstown landlord chose to ignore tenancy rules by housing 22 mainly migrant workers in a five-bedroom house, converted garages and a shed, the Ministry of Business and Innovation says. James Truong has been ordered to pay $113,723.56 for multiple breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act as well as refund 40 percent of rent paid by the tenants lodged in an unlawful boarding house. The ministry's tenancy compliance and investigations team found the house had failed to meet healthy homes standards and Truong had interfered with the tenant's power supply as well as posting invalid rent increases and harassing a tenant The team had advised Truong to stop using the building as a boarding house in 2020 but a complaint in 2023 revealed 11 people living in the five-bedroom house, and a further 11 people in two converted garages and a shed. TCIT National Manager Brett Wilson said Truong was an experienced landlord who would have been well aware of his obligations and responsibilities under the Act. "Mr Truong knew the rules but chose to ignore them. There was significant non-compliance in this case with multiple breaches of the Act ranging from failure to comply with healthy homes and insulation statement requirements to interfering with the supply of electricity. "The level of damages awarded reflects the seriousness of the non-compliance in this case and the number of people affected," Wilson said. Wilson said the tenants were in a vulnerable situation given most of them were new to the country. "Many of the tenants were overseas workers on working holiday visas who had little knowledge of their rights as tenants in New Zealand. They were also working in a location with a shortage of rental accommodation which made them vulnerable to a landlord who was knowingly operating outside of the Residential Tenancies Act." Adjudicator R Woodhouse rejected Truong's claims that the house was safe and compliant and that he was simply helping his tenants out. Woodhouse noted the commercial levels of rent charged at the premises were not consistent with that approach, and when attention from authorities came on to the premises, the tenancies were abruptly terminated. Truong was also issued with a three-year restraining order from committing any further unlawful acts related to operating a boarding house. RNZ has contacted Truong for comment.
RNZ News
20 hours ago
- RNZ News
Prominent figure facing charges gets continued name suppression
The man was arrested last week. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook A prominent New Zealander has been granted continued suppression orders prohibiting media from publishing his name and the charges he faces. RNZ revealed on Monday the prominent New Zealander was arrested last week . After being made aware of the man's arrest, RNZ approached the Wellington District Court to see if there were any suppression orders and when he would be appearing in court. In response, a registrar said the man faced eight charges, all of which are category three offences meaning the offence is punishable by imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for two years or more. However, an application had been granted prohibiting media from being able to report the man's name, identifying particulars as well as the nature of the charges he faced before his first appearance. On Thursday, the man appeared in the Wellington District Court. Media opposed the suppression orders. However, the defendant's lawyers asked for the orders to continue on an interim basis until their next appearance. Judge John Laurenson agreed to continue the orders. The man was remanded on bail without plea until his next appearance in August. The suppression orders will be argued then. Under the Criminal Procedure Act a court may make an order forbidding publication of the name of a person who is charged with an offence if the court is satisfied publication would be likely to result in eight different outcomes including causing extreme hardship and creating a real risk of prejudice to a fair trial. The fact a defendant is well known does not, of itself, mean that publication of his or her name will result in extreme hardship. At first appearance a defendant only needs to advance an "arguable case" that one of the eight grounds applies. The only section in the Criminal Procedure Act that permits suppression of the charges is section 199C, which permits suppression of "trial-related information" where the court is satisfied publication of that information is likely to create a real risk of prejudice to a fair trial. Trial-related information includes "any other specific information in relation to any trial". Where an interim order is made under section 199C it only lasts until the defendant's next court appearance.
