Robert Tapaitau Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
The Cook Islands corrections minister is denying that the former deputy prime minister, jailed in March for fraud, is receiving special treatment after being hired by family on a prison work scheme.
George Maggi said Robert Tapaitau is allowed to leave prison and work for his family as part of a long-standing government scheme.
The move prompted an outcry from opposition parties in the Cook Islands, who claim it smacks of favouritism.
Opposition leader Tina Browne of the Democratic Party said while the work scheme aims to rehabilitate and reintegrate inmates into society, prisoners must be referred to it judiciously, to ensure public trust and justice are served.
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ook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather agreed.
"I think it's disgusting and unfair, and the question is, what about other inmates. Are they being given preferential treatment too?" he asked.
Tapaitau was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for fraud involving some NZ$70,000.
He was convicted on three separate charges of using a document to obtain pecuniary advantage and one of conspiracy to defraud.
"What he did was wrong, using taxpayers money for personalised use, for the benefit of himself,"
Heather said.
"Its a so-called rehabilitation scheme to get prisoners back in the community, to get them to do right again. But my feeling is there is no justice in that, you do the crime you serve the time."
Maggie says Tapaitu leaves Arorangi prison at 7am, is accompanied and watched by prison wardens throughout the day and returns by 4.40 pm the same day.
He believes its vital to prepare prisoners for the outside world.
"They are human like us, I don't want to isolate and lock them away, so they are allowed to work in the community.
Once are released they are welcomed by the community to come back into the village." Maggie said.
However, he also explained that only families with money can afford to hire their relatives serving time at the prison, because
they pay the corrections service.
The former prime minister's work colleague, Diane Charlie-Puna, was recently disqualified from the scheme after being caught having breakfast at an Arorangi cafe.
Charlie-Puna was sentenced to 18 months' jail, also on fraud charges.