|
|
 |
And the problem
is??????
A government department allowed the
bikie acquitted of murdering former CIB chief Don Hancock to take
a 15-year-old ward of State bungee jumping.
Under WA law, The West Australian cannot identify the boy. But it
is understood his older brother - a convicted murderer - met the
senior Gypsy Joker in prison and asked him to take an interest in
the boy if he beat the murder charges.
The bikie, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was acquitted
by a jury of the car-bombing murders of Mr Hancock and racing
identity Lou Lewis in November.
About a month later, the Department of Community Development gave
its approval for the bikie to take the boy from a Belmont hostel.
It is understood DCD claimed to have had little choice because
the bikie had only a minor criminal record. The boy is currently
being cared for by a businessman who had also looked after him
for a short time before his stint in the hostel. The businessman
said he had contacted the department after the boy told him about
his friendship with the bikie. "They told me he (the bikie)
had a police clearance," he said. "But he had just got
off for the Don Hancock murder.
"Just because he has got a clearance doesn't mean that he
can't put him in some sort of moral danger."
The businessman said everyone involved with the boy was concerned
about the bikie.
"He (the bikie) rang up the hostel and said he was coming
over to get him," the businessman said. "They told him
he couldn't but he just rocked up and scared the living hell out
of the guy at the hostel.
"I also found out that the boy's brother, who is in jail,
has told him that through the bikie he could get him a part-time
job with one of their contacts."
The businessman said the department's approval of the bikie was
just one example of its poor handling of the boy's case.
He had to fight for every scrap of information about the boy's
mental health and the department did not arm carers with the
knowledge needed to look after people.
Shadow justice minister Sue Walker said the department was
mismanaged.
"It's quite distressing because there is simply no external
accountability in the department and it's just like a clandestine
organisation that doesn't look after the best interests of the
children," she said.
Department director Sue Ozich said the boy's contact with the
bikie was at a family member's request.
© 2004 West Australian Newspapers Limited
