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A woman who says a rape complaint she made to police in the 1980s was ignored is seeking compensation of $500,000.
Rhondda Herbert Savage, 40, now of Wellington, told the Sunday Star Times she was raped as a 14-year-old in the south Waikato town of Murupara by a man known to Bob Schollum, a former police officer convicted of rape along with Brad Shipton.
Dame Margaret Bazley said in the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct that police were in a "serious dereliction of duty" over their actions in response to the allegation.
She said that detectives who eventually charged the man years later found the original complaint had been ignored.
The man was acquitted but he was jailed for nine years in another case for raping two girls, whose complaints were also mishandled.
Ms Bazley said in her report that Ms Herbert-Savage's initial complaints were ignored, probably due to close links between the accused and Murupara police.
Ms Herbert Savage, who the Sunday Star-Times said gave legal permission for her name to be published, said she wanted $500,000 compensation as "this has affected my whole life".
She hired Wellington lawyer John Miller, who said he hoped to get compensation but noted that the highest amount given for a sexual abuse case in New Zealand was $85,000.
Mr Miller said he would also look at civil action for damages against the police and Attorney-General.
Ms Herbert-Savage lived next door in Murupara to Louise Nicholas, who alleged Schollum, Shipton and Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards sexually violated her in Rotorua in the mid-1980s.
All three were found not guilty of sexual violation charges against Ms Nicholas last year.
- NZPA
