A former police officer has been sentenced after pleading guilty to using the police database to obtain personal information about 21 different women.
Jeremy Ata Malifa was sentenced to 400 hours community work and 6 months community detention at Auckland District Court on Tuesday. He will spend 12 months under supervision and must pay $200 in emotional harm reparations to each victim.
Outside the court, the 34-year-old told Newshub reporters he wants to convey how sorry he is.
"I'm really sorry to all the people I've hurt and let down," Malifa said.
Malifa apologised to his 21 victims: "I'm sorry. I lied a lot. I'm sorry for the deception, the lies. I'm sorry that I came into their lives."
He also said he was sorry for harm caused to police.
"I've let people down. That included, massively, the police. I've caused a lot of harm to the police. I'm aware of that. I'm sorry to everyone I've worked with."
He said he is happy to not be in prison as despite having separated from his partner, he has three young children.
The judge said the sentence was intended to deter but rehabilitate.
The offending took place between 2010 and 2016, mostly occurring while the man was still a police officer.
He used the information to attempt to start relationships with his victims, many of whom he met while conducting police work.
Mailfa said he is now working in building up north.
Police have issued a statement saying the offending was "wholly distressing" for the victims. They say police now have a system capable of automatically monitoring unacceptable use of the police database.
Newshub.
