Auckland police officers charged with attempting to pervert course of justice during historical sex case

Police have charged two of their own with attempting to pervert the course of justice during an investigation more than a decade ago.

The charges come after the High Court found a miscarriage of justice had occurred in a sex case in Auckland in 2013.

Court documents show one of the accused remains an officer but the other has since left the police.

They appeared in the Auckland District Court on Friday morning where they each entered pleas of not guilty to a joint charge of wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice in September 2013.

The men, one aged in his 40s and the other in his 50s, were granted interim name suppression until at least their next appearance on July 3.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission reviewed the case back to the High Court earlier following an investigation by the body, set up to examine possible miscarriages of justice.

A judgment from the High Court at Auckland determined a miscarriage of justice had occurred and acquitted the man on the charges of committing an indecent act. His name is suppressed, as is that of the victim.

Detective Superintendent Dave Lynch said police conducted its own investigation and received information from the Commission’s inquiry.

“After taking independent legal advice, police has decided to file charges of wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice against two officers involved in the case,” Lynch said.

“One officer is no longer serving and the other officer is also subject to internal employment processes.”