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Archived Press Releases 2009 30th June 2009

NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL A SENSIBLE SENTENCE

(30th June 2009)

New Zealand has become a criminal’s paradise for those who maim, rape and murder, are we now becoming a soft touch for those who destroy lives through white collar crime asks Garth McVicar.

Convicted fraudster Bernard Madoff will die behind bars after being sentenced to 150 years in prison for fraud and the Sensible Sentencing Trust say New Zealand should follow suit.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar said it was the "most sensible sentence I have seen for a long time", and said this country should be sending similar signals to all criminals including our white collar fraudsters.

McVicar said the SST normally dealt with victims of violent crime but he had recently received letters from people who had lost their life savings and were destitute.

"The fraudulent behaviour of these white collar criminals have left many people penniless and without any chance to recover their life savings. Their lives have been destroyed."

"One gentleman said there are definitely similarities between offenders who destroy lives by acts of violence and criminals who destroy lives by cruel acts of blatant theft and white collar crime. They both show an utter disrespect for the well being of others."

"New Zealand has become a soft touch for criminals who maim rape and murder so I suppose it was natural that we become a paradise for white collar criminals also."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.