New Zealand Parole Board -

Compassionate Release hearing

Under section 41(3) of the Parole Act 2002

Vicki Ravana LETELE

Hearing: 10 November 2016 at New Zealand Parole Board Head Office, Wellington on papers

Members of the Board:

• Alan Ritchie – Panel Convenor
• Ms G Hughes
• Mr B McMurray

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. The Board has considered the compassionate release of Vicki Ravana Letele, 35.

2. Ms Letele is serving a term of imprisonment of three years, two months for the dishonest use of a document.

3. There is no other offending history.

4. The prison security classification is low.  The parole eligibility date is 6 April 2017 and the sentence expiry date is 15 May 2019.

5. In this decision, references to the Act or to sections are references to Parole Act 2002 or to sections of that Act.

6. In accordance with s41 we have received a written referral from the Board’s chairperson, the Hon J.W. Gendall Q.C. As required by s41(2), the referral has set out the Chairperson’s reasons.

7. Ms Letele is plainly seriously ill and unlikely to recover.

8. Earlier information relating to a different application under s25 has now been appropriately amplified by the Department’s own formal application under s41.

9. On that basis we are satisfied that the statutory grounds for compassionate release are made out.

10. Under s51(3) an offender who has been directed by the Board to be released on compassionate release must be released from prison on the date specified by the Board.  We are specifying release today, 10 November 2016.  We do so on advice from the Department that such release can be arranged given medical and treatment circumstances and the availability of accommodation.  We understand that, at least initially, the accommodation will be with (withheld).  We will specify that accommodation as a special condition but it will be on the basis of Community Probation being able to oversee and manage the accommodation requirements to suit any changing circumstances.

11. We are setting standard conditions (as provided for by s14) and certain special conditions of release with all conditions continuing until the statutory release date. It will be apparent from the circumstances of this case and from the special condition which modifies standard reporting requirements that there is an incompatibility between the conditions and for that reason we are (in accordance with s41(3)) waiving the obligation to comply with the standard conditions as the circumstances reasonably dictate .

12 The special conditions are:

(1) To reside at (withheld) and not to move from that address without the prior written approval of a probation officer with such approval being given where medical and treatment circumstances reasonably dictate.
(2) Not to give financial advice to any person or to be involved in the handling or management of the money, financial accounts or transactions of any person, without the prior written approval of a Probation Officer.
(3) To report to a Probation Officer when directed to do so by a Probation Officer but  any such direction will be given only when your medical and treatment circumstances reasonably allow.

Alan Ritchie
Panel Convenor