Medal Theives Should Be Charged With Treason

The Waiouru Army Museum Medal Theives Have Been Caught !

According to the NZ Herald...

Two men have been arrested and charged with the theft of 96 medals from the Waiouru Army Museum.

A 39-year-old from Te Atatu Peninsula and a 37-year-old from Waimauku will appear in the Auckland District Court this afternoon and police will be opposing bail.

Both face burglary charges and the 37-year-old faces an additional 42 fraud charges not related to the medals theft.

Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Bensemann said the investigation was complex and sensitive but he would not divulge details of what led to the arrests today.

"The significance of the theft of the medals to the families of the soldiers, and New Zealand as a nation, has never been far from our minds," he said.

"The return of the medals undamaged in February was wonderful news but these arrests are what the Operation Valour team have worked so hard to bring about.

"He said no further arrests were likely but further charges against the men could be made.Mr Bensemann said the matter was now before the courts and no further arrests were anticipated but further charges could result.

"Both persons have been of interest to the investigation since January," he said."The timing was right but there was no significant breakthrough."He would not answer questions about what was captured on the CCTV footage from the museum or whether the cameras were working.

The collection of 96 medals, including nine Victoria Crosses, was stolen from the museum in the early hours of December 2 last year."This is something that outraged the nation. This was something that needed to be solved for the New Zealand public," Mr Bensemann said.The medals were returned in February after police paid part of a $300,000 reward for their recovery, with part of the money reportedly going to the thieves.

Mr Bensemann said if police found that the two arrested men had received part of the reward then they would seek to recover the money. Lawyer Chris Comeskey brokered the deal that saw the medals returned. Mr Bensemann said police have arranged an appointment with Mr Comeskey."We intend to speak to him in due course," Mr Bensemann said. He said another lawyer was being spoken to in relation to the investigation but he would not comment further on who that might be or why police were speaking to them.

The medals are due to go back on display at the Waiouru Army Museum and a returning ceremony will take place next Tuesday.

End of NZ Herald Story >

I hope that these thieves will not be treated lightly by the Police, in fact I think they should be charged with Treason against the country and spend a long long time in prison.