Wi Huata to be freed on bail

Wi Huata will be released from jail on bail until an appeal against his fraud conviction is heard next year.

The Court of Appeal today ruled Huata, who is currently in Hawke's Bay Prison, could be released from custody subject to surrendering his passport and a residential condition.

Huata and his wife, former Act MP Donna Awatere Huata, were jailed in September after being found guilty of four charges of fraud and one joint charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Huata was sentenced to two years' jail but granted leave to apply for home detention. His bid was rejected by a three-person panel of the Parole Board convened by Judge Toomey in October.

Awatere Huata was sentenced to two years and nine months' jail which she is serving in Wellington's Arohata Prison.

The couple are both appealing their convictions and the joint hearing is expected to be held early next year.

The charges against the couple involved them defrauding more than $80,000 from the Government-funded Pipi Foundation, set up by Awatere Huata in 1999 to help underprivileged Maori children in literacy and social skills.

Some of the stolen money helped pay for a stomach stapling operation for Awatere Huata and some went on school fees for her children, the jury trial was told.

- NZPA