Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 61/05
Hearing date 9 Feb 2005 - 10 Feb 2005 (2 days)
Determination date 02 May 2005
Member J Crichton
Representation K Stringleman ; R Chan
Location Christchurch
Parties Aranga v The Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Serious misconduct - Applicant dismissed for alleged violence against prison inmate (A") - Applicant entered A's holding cell after A was abusive towards other corrections officers - Video footage of incident from security camera - Applicant advanced towards A - Physical exchange - At one point A was up against cell wall and applicant administered some blows to A - Applicant alleged these were disabling techniques to enable him to disengage from A - Applicant was aggressor given he chose erroneously to enter cell, not to exit cell, and to keep advancing on A - Two possible explanations for blows administered by applicant as they could have been to allow applicant to extricate himself or an assault - Reasonable for respondent to see applicant's action as inappropriate use of force constituting an assault on a prisoner - Disciplinary investigation procedurally fair - No evidence of predetermination - No personal grievance"
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Cases Cited Airline Stewards and Hostesses of NZ IUOW v Air NZ Ltd [1990] 3 NZLR 549
Number of Pages 8
PDF File Link: ca 61_05.pdf [pdf 45 KB]