JP resigns role over social media posts
A justice of the peace has resigned from the Wellington Justices of the Peace Association after he allegedly shared at least one Islamophobic post on social media.
Kantilal Bhagabhai ‘‘Ken’’ Patel, the recipient of a 2004 Queen’s Medal Service and a Kiwibank Local Hero award in 2010, allegedly shared the posts to the private Facebook group Wellington Indians.
Stuff has seen one post and has chosen not to publish it. Wel- lington Justices of the Peace Association vice-president Ann Clark said Patel had resigned from the organisation and the matter was now with the Ministry of Justice.
The ministry’s chief legal counsel, Jeff Orr, said it was seeking submissions from Patel within 20 working days.
After submissions from Patel were received, the ministry would report to the minister and a process would begin to determine the outcome of his JP status.
In an email seen by Stuff, which Clark confirmed she wrote, complaints were recently sent to the association about Patel’s alleged posts.
In the email, Clark said ‘‘we were appalled at the posts’’. The association had completed its investigation and found the ‘‘posts were not consistent with the standards expected of a justice of the peace’’, she wrote.
‘‘Mr Patel has been advised of that and the consequences for him.’’
Patel said he would not make a comment to Stuff until he spoke to his friends and a lawyer.
After viewing one of Patel’s alleged posts, a spokesman for the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand said it was unacceptable.
‘‘They ramp up the cycle of intolerance and hatred, which at its most extreme culminates in events such as we saw unfold in the Christchurch mosques in March 2019,’’ the spokesman said.
Justices of the peace could be removed from their roles or suspended. There are also lesser forms of discipline, including written rebukes and further training.