Airman to pay $3k for $91k of damage
A Royal New Zealand Air Force airman who caused more than $91,000 of damage to a service aircraft and had a sweary outburst at his colleagues must pay $3000 compensation.
He was also given a stay of seniority for two years and issued a reprimand.
Sergeant Steven Emanuel Repko, aged 40, faced a court martial on Monday over the incidents at the air force base in Whenuapai, Auckland, between June and November 2020.
The court martial was held online, before Chief Judge Kevin Riordan, due to Covid-19.
Repko was charged with negligently signing an inaccurate service document relating to the safety or efficiency of a service aircraft and negligently damaging service property.
He also faced two charges of failing to comply with written orders and one charge of using insubordinate language with his superior officer.
He pleaded guilty to all five charges via his lawyers, David Pawson and Eleanor Dyche.
Repko, whose LinkedIn profile states he has worked for the air force for 17 years over two stints since 2001, did not apply for name suppression.
According to court documents read by Judge Riordan, Repko signed work order documents stating no further work was outstanding on P-3K Orion NZ4205 without checking the documents were accurate.
Repko also caused $91,973.46 of damage to the plane’s wing plank through negligent use of a thread cutting tap and drill, and poor drilling technique.
The damage was not reported by Repko.
He also instructed colleagues to install incorrect parts to the plane without authorisation.
Lead prosecutor Colonel Craig Ruane said the incident called into question the trust the air crew had for someone in Repko’s position. ‘‘Air crew in particular have got to be able to rely on the behaviour of those maintaining the aircraft.’’
Royal New Zealand Navy sublieutenant Natacha Wisstt, also for the prosecution, said the damage resulted in a fuel leak whenever the plane’s fuel load was above 40,000 litres.
Nine occasions had been identified when it was likely there was fuel leaking from the plane during flight, creating a ‘‘medium’’ risk of fire.
The final charge related to incident, on an unknown date between September and October 2020, when he used bad language towards his superior officer while the officer was addressing the squadron.
‘‘Stop f...ing cutting me off. I’m trying to f...ing explain it to everyone. You just keep talking over the top of me and you don’t know what you’re talking about,’’ Repko is reported to have said. ‘‘Right, you f...ing do it, because you clearly know what’s going on. You f...ing do it, you’ve had experience outside.’’
Wisstt said the swearing made his comrades feel as if they were a ‘‘hindrance or a nuisance’’ to Repko.
‘‘They have been left feeling ‘like they have to walk on eggshells when they are working with him’.’’
Pawson read to the court martial a letter written by Dr Vimmi
Pillay, who said Repko’s behaviour might have been impacted by a head injury he received at work in July 2020.
Repko, who also has ADHD, did not seek treatment for the injury – a concussion – until nine months later, when his wife initiated a doctor’s visit after witnessing changes to his behaviour, including fatigue, memory loss and depression.
Pillay said a concussion in combination with ADHD may make a person irritable, quick to anger, and have poor concentration, impacting on home and work life.
Pawson confirmed Repko is currently on medical stand down and had sought medical release from his duties, the application of which was pending the result of the court martial. He added that since his diagnoses, Repko had received medical treatment that had helped him greatly.
Repko also accepted full responsibility for the incidents, which he had no memory of.
‘‘None of this would have happened but for his medical difficulties.’’
The court martial ordered Repko to pay $3000 compensation for damaging the plane. He was also given a stay of seniority for two years, meaning he cannot be promoted during that time.
The court martial also issued a reprimand.
Judge Riordan said: ‘‘This is serious offending. This is offending which relates to the security and safety of the armed forces.’’