Seventeen Dunedin students have already received convictions
for their part in this year's Undie 500 weekend disorder, but
the University of Otago is refusing to say if it has
disciplined anyone.
The university also refused to confirm a report this week
that at least one student had been suspended for a term for
his actions that weekend, saying it would not discuss
individual cases.
It also declined to reveal how many people it had sanctioned,
or what those sanctions were, while disciplinary processes
were under way.
The vice-chancellor would provide a summary of all the cases
the university had dealt with during the year to the first
University Council meeting next year, registrar Jan Flood
said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the police and the courts continue to show little
leniency to those arrested between September 11 and 13.
The student reportedly suspended from the university was not
one of 65 people who faced charges in the District Court
following the weekend in which mass disorder reigned in
Castle St over two nights following the arrival of the Undie
500 in the city.
Twenty-four people are still to be dealt with by the courts.
As promised, police have opposed diversion in all cases
relating to the Undie 500 weekend, although eight people have
had charges withdrawn due to a lack of evidence.
All of those dealt with so far have pleaded guilty.
Three students who applied in the Dunedin District Court for
a discharge without conviction had their applications
rejected.
Out of the 33 already dealt with, only two, a pair of
Christchurch students whose cases were heard in the
Christchurch District Court, have been discharged without
conviction.
Most of those convicted have been ordered to pay a fine
and/or carry out a sentence of community work.
The harshest penalty remains a $1000 fine for an unemployed
41-year-old Dunedin man for breaching the Dunedin City
Council liquor ban.
Two male students received $750 fines, one for disorderly
behaviour likely to cause violence, the other for breaching
the liquor ban.
Those breaching the liquor ban have mostly been fined about
$500 if they appeared in the Dunedin District Court and $250
if they appeared in the Christchurch District Court.
debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz
So far
- 65 people charged after Undie 500 weekend
- 8 had charges withdrawn
- 31 convicted (17 Dunedin students, 2 Christchurch students,
2 Telford students and 10 others)
- 2 discharged without conviction
- 24 still to be dealt with
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