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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 18, 2017 14:01:58 GMT 12
Defence 'secret agent' in court over theft2 hours ago Corporal Richard Graham was found to have used his security clearance to commit burglaries. Photo credit: File A Royal New Zealand Air Force "secret agent" who escaped charges of stealing "high value" and "operationally sensitive" items from a Defence Force base has had his case appealed by the police. Corporal Richard Graham was found to have used his security clearance to commit burglaries from a military base's Force Protection Unit. He was also accused of stealing tools from contractors working on the base and of offering to supply drugs. In an earlier decision granting Graham his discharge without conviction, District Court Judge Belinda Pidwell weighed up the seriousness of his offences against his important national security service to the country. On Wednesday in the High Court at Auckland, Crown prosecutor Scott McColgan accepted there appeared to be a link between Graham's offending and the stress he suffered working as an intelligence operative for the military. However, he said the combination of stealing high value and sensitive items and committing drug-related offences made Graham's offending very serious. This should have prevented him from qualifying for a discharge without a conviction, he said. Defence lawyer Karl Trotter said ordinarily he would have agreed with Mr McColgan's comments. "But this is far from ordinary," he said. He said Graham worked as a "secret agent" during an overseas military deployment and had turned to drugs as a way of coping with the highly stressful work. When he returned, his military commanders, who were not a part of the intelligence sector, did not know of his secret service and so did not provide Graham with adequate support, Mr Trotter said. Justice Anne Hinton agreed the case was unusual. She asked whether a discharge or dishonourable discharge from the military, which was likely to follow on from a criminal conviction, was fair for "someone who has conducted the sort of service he has and undertaken the risks he has". Justice Hinton reserved her judgement. NZN www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/10/defence-secret-agent-in-court-over-theft.html
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Post by phil on Oct 23, 2017 15:38:45 GMT 12
'Secret agent'.
What a load of crap.
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Post by shorty on Oct 23, 2017 20:35:34 GMT 12
How the hell can he be a "secret agent" when his name has been published???
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Post by snafu on Oct 28, 2017 15:07:06 GMT 12
How the hell can he be a "secret agent" when his name has been published??? Well James Bond never used an alias,
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 28, 2017 20:00:47 GMT 12
Are you sure his name is Richard Graham?
Walter Mitty sounds more appropriate.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 1, 2018 0:23:18 GMT 12
NZ Air Force 'secret agent' convicted of stealing sensitive info and possessing methamphetamine 11:39amShare Source: NZN A Royal New Zealand Air Force "secret agent" who earlier escaped charges of stealing "high value" and "operationally sensitive" items from an air base has now been convicted of the crimes. Corporal Richard Graham was found to have used his Air Force security pass to commit three burglaries at the Whenuapai air base in 2016, stealing items worth more than $200,000. This included electronics containing sensitive information and tools from a construction site. He was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine and another drug mimicking the effects of LSD. He subsequently pleaded guilty to six charges of burglary and possession and supply of drugs. However, District Court Judge Belinda Pidwell granted Graham a discharge without conviction. She reasoned at the time that while he had committed serious offences, he had also undertaken important national security service an an intelligence operative for the military. She accepted arguments from Graham's defence team that he had turned to drugs on his return to New Zealand as a way to cope with stress from his work as a "secret agent" in a war zone. She also agreed he had not been given proper support on his return because his commanders, who were not a part of the intelligence sector, did not know about his secret service. However, the police appealed the decision to the High Court, seeking to have convictions entered against Graham. In a reserved decision made late last month, High Court Justice Anne Hinton upheld the police appeal and recorded convictions against Graham on all six charges. She accepted Graham had "done everything he could" to rehabilitate himself by becoming drug-free and gaining interim employment in the building industry. She also accepted Graham would likely be dishonourably discharged from the Defence Force because of his convictions and would never secure employment in the intelligence sector again. However, she said this was not likely to stop him finding a job in a different field. His offending had been serious and future employers deserved to know what he had done, she said. "Graham is very capable and skilled, and there is no evidence that he would not be employable in a number of alternative roles," she said. Graham will no be sentenced in the District Court. www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/nz-air-force-secret-agent-convicted-stealing-sensitive-info-and-possessing-methamphetamine
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Post by blackgull on Feb 13, 2018 13:22:05 GMT 12
I'm curious as to why this occurence needs to be promulgated in this bulletin board?
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Post by baronbeeza on Feb 13, 2018 16:09:36 GMT 12
I can answer for myself, not sure about the originator of the post.
This particular thread is titled Post-war RNZAF discussion. I don't believe all I see in the media but the article mentioned RNZAF, theft, courts etc. The media obviously thought it was worthy of giving some exposure.
I have given up reading papers and watching 'News' on TV so many of us ex-RNZAF mob tend to follow what is going on on these threads.
I have to admit I was surprised that the RNZAF had JNCO 'spies' these days.
We all enjoy a good laugh, be it at the expense of the courts, police or media..... they all make cracker errors. There has been a large degree of stupidity being reported in these various articles. Sad but entertaining for those of us grumpy old types.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 13, 2018 16:22:59 GMT 12
Are you implying this guy was not RNZAF?
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Post by blackgull on Feb 14, 2018 7:59:39 GMT 12
On the contrary. I had missed this story in the general press, so you have provided a service in posting it. I am more curious in the subsequent posts which were ones of incredulity or amusement. Not one post questioning the seriousness of the few facts we have about his deployment and treatment which the Judge appeared to take as major contributing factors to his offending. Rather than providing amusement value, I find it concerning that NZDF appears to be involved in high risk activities that appear to have prompted his drug usage, and felonies, on his return. It is reported elsewhere that of 13 individuals in this activity, 8 have had significant problems subsequent to their return from deployment. NZDF response has been so inadequate that a volunteer group has been formed to provide some support. So here is a serviceman who has probably experienced more risk and trauma than most RNZAF personnel would experience in a lifetime career of safe activities being further derided rather than supported. Pity.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 14, 2018 8:40:11 GMT 12
Well yes that is the reason I first posted the initial news story, because when I first read it I had trouble making sense of it. I was not aware that the RNZAF, or the NZDF, had spies serving in dangerous positions. I was hoping more light would come onto the subject. Although that was probably a vain hope as I doubt the NZDF is that keen to discuss such activities.
If the story is true that this chap has endured such stress and life-changing effects following his service for his country and has been overlooked by the NZDF in the aftermath, that really sucks and I feel sorry for him. It would not really surprise me either, the NZDF is well known for washing their hands of people who have served and are no longer needed, there's apparently a campaign formulating right now to try to get after-service care for medical problems resulting from NZDF service - the care we were all promised when we signed up but people have found doesn't exist when you need it.
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Post by baronbeeza on Feb 14, 2018 11:23:52 GMT 12
I agree about the scant details and we are once again trying to read between the lines. Every court I have been involved in, both military and civilian have never got close to what I believe the truth. Again the Police are content with just the 'gist' of the situation and as long as we have the right outcome then the detail can be ignored. Given that there are two sides to every story and we are only ever fed selected details that suits the agenda many here did show interest. I have done both the military and 'mercenary' thing and would have been exposed to much more stress and danger in the latter. Life in an African jail is a little different.... a real 'mess'.
What was unusual in this reported case was that the accused pleaded guilty and was then discharged without conviction. The Police then appealed that decision. What did they know that the first judge didn't ?
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