JANUARY 30_STAR

The Star Thursday January 30 2020
4
• By Louis Day
NEWS
• By Kurt Bayer
A WHITE supremacist jailed
for sharing disturbing footage
of the mosque shootings has
been banned from the city’s two
mosques – and from having any
contact with all Muslims.
Philip Neville Arps, 45, who
was sentenced to 21 months in
prison last June for spreading
disturbing footage of the Al Noor
Mosque massacre, was scheduled
for release late yesterday.
But last week, the Department
of Corrections applied for extra
release conditions, on top of the
raft of conditions imposed on
him when he was sentenced at
the district court on June 18 –
including a blanket internet ban,
inspections of any electronic
device capable of accessing
the internet, counselling, and
drug or alcohol treatment
programmes.
Corrections officials said they
have “ongoing concerns” about
Arps’ risk to the public, in particular
to the Muslim community,
after fears over his “general
behaviour” towards prison staff,
along with intercepted letters
and phone calls.
The content of those letters
and phone conversations were
CITY COUNCILLOR Phil
Mauger has made a bid to get
parts of an earthquake-battered
road in the eastern suburbs
relocated to the red zone.
Cr Mauger said parts of New
Brighton Rd should be moved
30m to higher
ground in the red
zone away from
the Avon River.
This makes
more sense than
the ongoing
Phil Mauger
patch-up costs
ratepayers face
when the river floods in high
tides and heavy rain, and damages
the road, he said.
Cr Mauger said as a result of
his idea the city council put a $1
suppressed by Judge Stephen
O’Driscoll at a special hearing
over Arps’ prison release conditions
at the district court on
Monday.
Yesterday, judge O’Driscoll approved
extra special release conditions,
which includes a ban on
Arps entering or loitering near
any mosque, prayer room, or any
other place where the Muslim
community congregates, without
prior written approval from his
probation officer.
The city businessman, who
million planned maintenance
spend on New Brighton Rd
between Bower Ave and Wattle
Drive on hold.
‘Just slapping paint on
something that is buggered
is not the way’
– Phil Mauger
Said Cr Mauger: “New
Brighton Rd should be moved
30m north up into the red zone
property. This would mean that
the new New Brighton Rd could
be constructed at a higher level
to avoid flooding then move the
stopbank back to cover old New
Brighton Rd.
“It is an insult to people in the
east’s intelligence to spend a mill
patching an old road that will
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
White supremacist banned from mosques
owns a Nazi-themed insulation
company, is also not allowed to
contact or associate with any
Muslims without approval.
Corrections said the moves
were for “victim safety” and felt
that jail time hadn’t reduced his
risk to the Muslim community.
Arps, who does not hold a gun
licence and has more than 30
previous criminal convictions
for indecent assault, guns, drugs,
burglary, and fraud, is also not
allowed to possess or use firearms,
or to be involved in airsoft
Quake-damaged road could be diverted through red zone
continue to flood when the same
money could be put toward a new
higher one that would be much
more suitable.”
Cr Mauger said relocation of
New Brighton Rd to red zone
land would be a priority for himself
and the Coastal-Burwood
Community Board he sits on.
“Every community board has
six things they want to achieve
this term, this is one of our priorities.
“Just slapping paint on something
that is buggered is not the
way.”
City council head of transport
Richard Osborne said if New
Brighton Rd was to be relocated
the project would need to be
added to the next Long Term Plan
which will be reviewed next year.
• Editor’s desk, page 12
CONDITIONS:
Philip Arps is
not allowed
to contact or
associate with
any Muslims
without
approval.
or BB-gun activities.
Arps had challenged the extra
conditions sought by Corrections.
Through defence counsel
Anselm Williams, he argued that
the existing “carefully considered”
release conditions would
be sufficient and was critical that
the Corrections report writer
had never met with Arps in person
and spoken to him about his
views or correspondence.
There was nothing to suggest
Arps was a physical threat or at
a heightened risk of reoffending,
Williams said.
A Corrections official who
gave evidence at the hearing said
that Arps, who compares himself
to Adolf Hitler’s deputy and war
criminal Rudolf Hess, found
anyone who disagrees with his
belief system to be offensive.
She fears he could harm
the Muslim community again
“through his views … most
likely through online advocacy.”
The Muslim Association of
Canterbury supported the extra
release conditions, saying the
community is “still very much
traumatised” and says it’s imperative
that Arps, who maintains
his anti-Muslim rhetoric cannot
visit or be seen around mosques
nationwide.
Corrections also expressed
concern over Arps’ business
Beneficial Insulation, with its
various Nazi symbols and white
supremacist messages, and
sought a condition that prevents
him from using his employment
as a platform to promote extreme
views.
However, Judge O’Driscoll did
not impose that condition.
Full reasons for his decision
will be released today.
• Mosque leader to speak in
US, page 7
RADICAL IDEA: City councillor Phil Mauger wants to
relocate New Brighton Rd onto red zone land to stop it
from flooding.
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