By NAOMI LARKIN
Police have not yet carried out their promise to honour a deal with a Mongrel Mob informant, despite a court ruling.
Former Mob head Anthony Hewison, who has been hiding in Australia since 1997 after informing on fellow gang members, said yesterday that police had shown no intention
of helping him despite court action and the public pledge that followed.
"There's no way they are going to conform to the court order. They will fight it to whatever extent it takes," he said.
Mr Hewison, aged 38, claimed during a High Court hearing in March that in return for providing information about the gang and returning an arsenal of weapons, the police promised to set him up with a new life and identity in Australia.
But police had double-crossed him and reneged on the deal, he said. He had been left stranded and facing certain death if he was forced to return to New Zealand.
In June, Justice Hugh Williams ruled that police had not honoured their contract with Mr Hewison to provide "reasonable assistance" in his application to achieve permanent residency in Australia.
Justice Williams ruled that both parties should come to an agreement about costs and other assistance that could be provided to Mr Hewison.
After the ruling, the police national crime manager, Detective Superintendent Bill Bishop, said police accepted the decision and would begin negotiations to ensure that they complied with the ruling.
But Mr Hewison claimed yesterday that in a subsequent telephone call Mr Bishop told him that police were not obliged to comply with the judgment.
"He gave a big front publicly over in New Zealand. But they are not being helpful at all, they are more of a hindrance," Mr Hewison said.
Police have also refused to pay costs. Mr Hewison has lodged a High Court application to recover these.
Detective Inspector Harry Quinn, who is now handling the matter, said police were responding to the judgment. But he refused to say what they were doing or when they would let Mr Hewison know their intentions.
Mr Hewison's lawyer, Paul Dale, said there had been no signs of assistance from the police. The only thing they had done was to file a memorandum saying that they should not have to pay costs, he said.
He expected a ruling to be made on costs within a fortnight.
By NAOMI LARKIN
Police have not yet carried out their promise to honour a deal with a Mongrel Mob informant, despite a court ruling.
Former Mob head Anthony Hewison, who has been hiding in Australia since 1997 after informing on fellow gang members, said yesterday that police had shown no intention
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