Inmate with measles delays court case
An outbreak of measles at Auckland’s Mt Eden prison has halted the case of a man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of scorched almonds.
Harez Jamal Hassan, 29, who was charged over the alleged theft of $12,000 worth of Nestle Scorched Almonds from a food bank, appeared in Manukau District Court on Tuesday but his case was adjourned, until August 27, because his lawyer, Harvena Cherrington, had not been able to take instructions from Hassan at the prison due to the outbreak.
Hassan, who is in custody at Mt Eden Corrections Facility, appeared agitated by the request for adjournment telling the court, ‘‘this is the second time she’s done this to me. I’ve been trying to contact her [Cherrington] but she doesn’t answer me, she’s had four weeks to do this.’’
A prisoner at the facility contracted measles on July 27 and was immediately isolated along with another prisoner he had been sharing a cell with.
Thirty-six prisoners were identified as having had potential direct contact with the prisoner while he was infectious. They were transferred to other prisons from one of two units at Mt Eden.
There have been 516 confirmed measles cases across New Zealand this year.
Hassan, whose occupation is listed on court documents as a painter, has been charged with the theft alongside another charge of receiving a $14,000 trailer.
The charges relate to the alleged theft of 1200 boxes of Nestle Scorched Almonds and a trailer from the South Auckland Christian Food Bank in early May.
The charity had received the chocolates through Christmas Box, a company that provides food to families during the holiday season.
Hassan has entered not guilty pleas to both charges.