Restaurateur denied home detention

An Auckland restaurateur sentenced to jail last year for ordering his staff to beat and kidnap two other workers has had his request for a home detention sentence rejected by the Court of Appeal.

Rupinder Singh Chahil was last year jailed for two years on two counts of kidnapping and one of aggravated wounding.

The case followed an incident on June 10, 2007, when Bashan and Akbar Singh quit their jobs at Chahil's Curry and Spice Restaurant in Whangaparaoa because they were unhappy with their wages.

Later that night, six to eight people, including Chahil, arrived unannounced at the Singhs' home, assaulted the men and then took them to separate addresses, holding them captive for several hours. Last month the Court of Appeal quashed the aggravated wounding conviction, reduced Chahil's sentence to 18 months, and ordered him to pay $5000 to one victim - Bashan Singh.

At a Court of Appeal hearing last week, John Haigh QC, for Chahil, argued his client should not serve a prison sentence, and should instead be sentenced to home detention.

Mr Haigh rejected suggestions Chahil would commit further violence against the victims.

"I appreciate that innocent people were affected, but the court has to do what it sees fit in the interests of justice," he said.

"If he is sent to prison he is going to lose everything he's built up. Putting him in jail is not going to do the community any good."

However, in a judgment released today, the court said the 18-month jail sentence was appropriate.

"We are not persuaded either that home detention ought to be substituted or that the term is excessive," the decision said.

Chahil was ordered to present himself at the High Court in Auckland by no later than midday on Friday to begin his sentence.

- NZPA