Informant’s details leaked to gang
AUCKLAND: An employee of Vehicle Testing New Zealand supplied the details of a complainant who talked to police about men acting suspiciously near the home of a Thai woman who was later kidnapped.
The woman, Jindarat Prutsiriporn, died from serious head injuries in March last year after she threw herself from the boot of a moving car while bound and gagged.
Six men were sentenced in the High Court at Auckland on Monday to varying periods in jail in relation to Ms Prutsiriporn’s death.
During sentencing, Justice Matthew Palmer said he was disturbed that personal information about the informant — who told police about a suspiciouslooking group outside Ms Prutsiriporn’s Waterview home — was given to the Head Hunters by a VTNZ employee who could look up licence plate details on a database.
Police said the matter had been investigated and no charges were laid.
VTNZ general manager of operations Greg O’Connor said the company carried out its own investigation and the employee no longer worked for VTNZ.
In a short statement to Radio NZ, he said the integrity of its system was vital and security protocols were in place, but it was not possible to stop all breaches.
Privacy Commissioner John Edwards said he was very concerned about the findings of Justice Palmer.
He would ask VTNZ for details of the incident, and for an explanation of the company’s security processes and procedures. — NZN