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The Herald on Sunday reported today Viliami Halaholo, the partner of Ms Bennett’s daughter Ana, and father of her child, was bailed to Ms Bennett’s west Auckland address for 10 months, up to July 2007, while awaiting trial on charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Halaholo, whom the newspaper said was a member of the Thugs of Canal street gang, was sentenced four months later to 4½ years jail.
Ms Bennett was an opposition MP at the time.
The newspaper suggested the relationship with Halaholo presented a security risk as Ms Bennett could be subjected to undue influence by Halaholo or his fellow gang members.
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Rough and tumble minister of Social Development Paula Bennett is in the news again with the Herald on Sunday revealing that she had a gang member bailed to her house several years ago. The individual was awaiting trial of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Many on the left are trying to make excuses for this woman pushing the “we’re not like the right” angle however I believe in this instance Bennett deserves criticism for an obvious lapse of judgment that runs contrary to National’s much trumpeted tough on crime stance.
January 26, 2009 at 10:04 pm
The crim Bennett sheltered is her daughter’s partner and father of her daughter’s baby.
February 11, 2009 at 10:05 pm
If only the rest of National would realise that “Criminals” and “People” aren’t mutually exclusive groups.
tiger: instead of calling on National to live up to their “Tough on crime” rhetoric you should be asking them to be more like Bennett.