Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he found it "utterly unbelievable" a former Lotto presenter accused of money laundering was suspended on full pay from his public sector job for five years, right up until he pleaded guilty.
Stuff reported that Russell Harrison continued to draw his Ministry of Justice salary throughout the suspension, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, until his employment was terminated.
The 56-year-old delivered six bars of gold bullion to the Comancheros in Türkiye and was among hundreds arrested in a 2021 global FBI sting. His name only became public a fortnight ago, when a suppression order was lifted at a court hearing where he admitted to money laundering.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said he was "shocked" and has asked the ministry for an explanation on how this could happen.
"I think everybody instinctively thinks five years is a very, very long time, and so I've asked for an explanation about that", he told 1News, adding he would expect that back "soon".
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters in Hawke's Bay on Friday he found the payments "unacceptable".
"I know Minister Paul Goldsmith is very frustrated by this as well, and has asked for a full please explain by the Ministry of Justice, and we need to let that process run through but it was quite unbelievable to hear that this morning."
In a statement to 1News, Ministry of Justice acting chief operating officer Andrea King said Harrison had been employed as a kaiārahi (navigator) in the Family Court, starting in June 2021 after passing a criminal record check and vetting.
"He was arrested and charged later that month and, once the Ministry became aware, he was immediately suspended from his role, pending the outcome of his court case," King said.
"From that point on, Mr Harrison was not permitted to work in his role. But because he was in law innocent until proven guilty, a decision about whether to terminate his employment needed to wait until the outcome of the charge was clear."
King said the Ministry terminated Harrison's employment following his guilty plea.
"We are shocked and disappointed at Mr Harrison's serious criminal offending, and his case in no way should reflect on the outstanding work that our kaiārahi do day in, day out in the Family Court."
He presented Lotto on TVNZ for more than a decade and also worked on cruise ships as an entertainer.
His arrest was part of an international operation, called Operation Trojan Shield, which culminated in coordinated raids across 16 countries, including New Zealand, resulting in more than 800 arrests, tons of drugs seized, and millions in cash uncovered.
Today's stories include a miraculous rescue in Venezuela, an update on the Empire state building couple, wildfires in France and Taylor Swift's wedding. (Source: 1News)
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