MSD To Be Prosecuted?
Gregory Soar made this Official Information request to Public Service Commission
The request was partially successful.
From: Gregory Soar
Dear State Services Commissioner,
Subject
Official Information request - MSD Forgery Prosecution Evidential & Public Interest Tests Met
Dear State Services Commissioner,
In an Official Information Act request response dated 5 December to Māmari Stephens the MSD states it decides to prosecute clients based upon both the Evidential test and the Public Interest test, both having their meanings supplied in that correspondence.
It is clear that in the recent High Court ruling by Collins J ( THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT v L [2018] NZHC 2528 [26 September 2018] ) that no legal authority existed for Boyle and MSD ( same thing legislation says ) to use false names on legal documents. That leaves the Crimes Act 1961 clearly showing those who signed the false names (ss255,256 and 257) and anyone procuring such actions (s66(1)(d) to have breached serious criminal law punishable by a maximum of ten years jail being a category four crime.
MSD clients regularly are required to sign documents declaring honesty.
It is clear that the “Evidential Test” as outlined in the MSD letter to Māmari Stephens is met by Collins J ruling and the Crimes Act as stated.
It is clear the “Public Interest Test” is also met. To prosecute a beneficiary or non beneficiary for fraud using the same Crimes Act sections and clauses MSD has apparently breached and then not prosecuting MSD / Boyle for the very same criminal breaches would seriously damage the faith and public view in the MSD. It would appear a double standard applies between clients and the MSD itself. That can not be permitted due public need to have both faith and trust in fairness at all times but especially when a powerful ( controls people incomes thus lives to some extent ) State Service organisation is breaching what is required both legally and morally
Bearing the above in mind:
1. Does the State Services Commissioner intend to prosecute the Ministry of Social Development / Boyle for the alleged criminal actions of Boyle and MSD in using false names on documents?
2. If the State Services Commissioner is not intending to prosecute the MSD for alleged forgery as above why not bearing in mind both the evidential and public interest tests would be well met in this instance and the Commissioners legislated requirements in this area around legal moral respected by public requirements as part of the State Services commissioners legislated duties?
Yours faithfully,
Gregory Soar
Yours faithfully,
Gregory Soar
From: SSC Enquiries
Dear Mr Soar
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your OIA request, received 20 December 2018.
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than are 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
Please note, the three weeks between 25th December 2018 and 15th January 2019 do not count as working days. This means your response is due by 11 February 2019.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact Ministerial Services at [email address]. If any additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into account.
Our letter notifying you of our decision on your request will confirm if we intend to publish the letter (with your personal details removed) and any related documents on the State Services Commission’s website.
sscKind regards
Ministerial Services
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