National Party leader Judith Collins asks auditor general to investigate $2 75m for Mongrel Mob-led rehab program stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A Mongrel-Mob led meth rehabilitation programme has been awarded Proceeds of Crime Act funding. (File pic) “The money should never have gone to the gang, but what makes it more concerning is that the recipient of the funds is senior Mongrel Mob member Harry Tam and his company H2R,” she said. “This is serious. At best this is a very bad decision from a Government who would rather cosy up to gangs than keep New Zealanders safe.” National Party police spokesman Simeon Brown also wrote to the Auditor General over the Chief Human Rights Commissioner’s $200 koha to the Waikato Mongrel Mob. Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt spoke at an event in May and a koha was laid at the pōwhiri in line with tikanga or Māori custom.
Mongrel Mob member behind drug rehab programme has his say Sun, 18 Jul 2021, 2:05PM
Harry Tam, the man behind a controversial $2.75m meth rehab programme in Central Hawke s Bay. Photo / RNZ
Mongrel Mob member behind drug rehab programme has his say Sun, 18 Jul 2021, 2:05PM
The man behind a controversial $2.75 million Mongrel Mob-led drug rehab programme has a message for his critics: Jacinda seems to trust me. Why wouldn t you?
Hard2Reach director Harry Tam, a lifetime honorary member of the Mongrel Mob behind the Kahukura programme under way in Central Hawke s Bay, appeared on TVNZ s Q+A on Sunday to explain why rehab was so badly needed in gangs.
Stuff has spoken to numerous officers who were stunned to hear of the funding. Now Police Association President Chris Cahill said he had been contacted by officers who were asking “why they should even bother making the huge commitment and taking the risks they do to bring to account gangs who are armed, dangerous, and dealing meth on a massive scale, when the money is just going to go back to the gangs”.
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The programme sees participants working in a ‘community garden’ at the home of the president of the Mongrel Mob s Notorious chapter, Sonny Smith, pictured. Cahill said one officer described it as “the most successful money laundering scheme he’d heard”.
Explainer - One of National s current lines of attack against Labour is an accusation that the governing party has funded the Mongrel Mob to the tune of $2.75 million.
A methamphetamine rehabilitation programme with close ties to the Mongrel Mob has received money from the Proceeds of Crime Fund.
Photo: RNZ / Vinay Ranchhod
The money, from the Proceeds of Crime Fund, was signed off by those at the top of Labour, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
It was for a methamphetamine rehabilitation programme called Kahukura in the central Hawke s Bay.
But the organisation running the programme has gang connections, some of the property it is held on has gang connections, and some of those taking part do too.