A former detainee of an Australian detention facility is scared for his future as Australian authorities look to extradite deportees involved in riots on Christmas Island. Te Kāea spoke to Peina Clarke who was at the facility during the riots.
Daily visits to his parole officer are now the norm for Peina Clarke. But it's a visit from the Australian authorities that has him scared.
“A few of my boys have already been seen by detectives saying that you will be charged, I might not be one of them, but I’m guessing I will be and yeah serve jail time again”, says Clarke.
Reports say the Australian authorities are looking to prosecute deportees involved in the riots at the Christmas Island detention facility six months ago.
Clarke says he was there, but had no hand in the mess, “I've just gotten over the traumatisation that the Australian government gave to us, to me and all my boys.”
NZ Police said they do not comment on any investigations by overseas law enforcement jurisdictions.
MP Kelvin Davis predicts if they do charge deportees here, it would spell disaster for those like Clarke.
“If the Australian Police extradite them, I believe they will be thrown back in a detention centre. We know that Australia has done the same to people like Ko Hapu who was thrown into a detention centre. He's never appeared before an Australian court.”
It was reported the damages from the riot cost around $11mil.
Davis says deportees would pay an even higher cost.
“Australia are playing with these people. They incarcerate them in Australia, then they deport them back to NZ. Now they want to return to Australia. It's a waste of time”, says Davis.
Clarke says, “I've settled down in New Zealand, I've somewhat got my life back together and that hasn't been easy, and now they want to take it away from me again.”
14 were sent to prison when the riots took place, but no one was charged. Clarke hopes it stays the same in the future