Huata a 'hypocrite' over home detention

Donna Awatere Huata has been called a hypocrite after being granted home detention.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust says the former Act MP has repeatedly spoken in public against criminals being allowed to serve out their sentences in their own homes.

Huata was jailed last September for two years and nine months for defrauding Maori children's reading trust, the Pipi Foundation, of more than $80,000.

She is eligible for parole in July and yesterday appeared before a Parole Board hearing where she was granted home detention.

Garth McVicar, spokesman for the Sensible Sentencing Trust, said Huata had given many speeches for the Trust against home detention.

He said he was surprised and disappointed about what he calls a complete double standard.

Mr McVicar said home detention was a failed experiment and that Awatere Huata should have to finish her sentence behind bars.

- NEWSTALK ZB, HERALD STAFF