Convicted rapist and former policeman Robert Francis Schollum has been granted parole after the Parole Board reviewed its decision to deny him parole earlier this year.
In a decision issued today, the board said Schollum did not pose an "undue" risk to the community and would be released to live with his wife and her parents, at an unspecified date.
Schollum is serving a sentence of eight years after being convicted in July 2005 along with two other men of the pack rape and abduction of a 20-year-old Mount Maunganui woman in 1989.
Schollum was denied parole after a hearing in March when the Parole Board said he was still a risk to the community and had an arrogant view of his role in the pack rape of the woman. He asked for a review of the decision.
In its rehearing, the board said a psychologist's report assessed him as being of low risk of re-offending, he had a supportive marriage and social network, and had behaved impeccably in prison.
While Schollum continued to maintain he was wrongfully convicted, he remained ashamed and embarrassed about his behaviour, the board said.
The victim was keen to meet Schollum so he could acknowledge at least some of the damage to her from his and others' behaviour, despite his denial that he committed the offences.
Schollum had decided not to meet her, believing it would be unhelpful as he would be forced to defend himself against the victim's views, which would make things worse rather than better, he had told the board.
While he faced standard conditions which were to continue for the rest of his sentence, Schollum also faced a number of special conditions.
These include not communicating with his co-offenders or their victim, and that he not give any interviews about his trial, conviction, sentence, imprisonment, appeal or parole.
Schollum, his wife and supporters were prepared for the media interest in him, and were confident they could cope.
"We think that the years that have passed since this offence and his very stable family and married life since that time, together with his employment and the other information we have received from the many others who have taken the time to support his application for parole, confirm the view of the psychologist that he is at low risk of re-offending," the board said.
Schollum and his wife of 11 years have two children.
He had an administrative job available immediately, and his prospective employer accompanied him to the board hearing.
Last week former police officer and co-accused Brad Shipton was released from Wanganui prison after serving three years of an 8-1/2 year sentence for his part in the rape.
The woman said the men lured her into a lifesaving hut on the pretext of having a lunch date with one of them. Once there she was bound, raped, forced to perform oral sex and brutally violated.
The men said the sex was consensual.
Co-accused Peter McNamara was released in January after serving a third of his seven-year sentence.
Schollum, Shipton and former police assistant commissioner Clint Rickards were cleared in 2006 of raping Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas in the 1980s.
