A police identikit image of one of the fleas wanted in relation to unlawful entry of the Auckland District Court. Photo / Thinkstock
A police identikit image of one of the fleas wanted in relation to unlawful entry of the Auckland District Court. Photo / Thinkstock
Courtroom 1 at Auckland District Court is where many cases start from scratch, but that took on a different meaning at the weekend.
Saturday's hearings - which usually feature overnight arrests - were due to take place in the room, but a Ministry of Justice spokesman confirmed they had tobe moved after staff noticed fleas.
It was cleaned and back in action by Monday, and yesterday the spokesman said there had been no further complaints about an insect infestation.
However, one lawyer approached court staff to complain about the fleas making an appearance in interview rooms where lawyers speak privately with clients. "I saw one jumping around," he told them.
He later confirmed he had not been bitten and the situation had been remedied. He blamed it on the "clientele" the court attracted.
In a statement, the ministry said: "Courtrooms are busy places that see a high volume of people from all walks of life come through the doors on any given day, whether they are working or appearing in the courtroom, or have come along to watch from the public gallery.
"Courtroom 1 at the Auckland District Court, which deals with general list matters, is one of the busiest courtrooms in the country."
The spokesman said courts were cleaned every day and contractors regularly fumigated rooms for fleas and other insects.
