More pressure has been heaped on the Corrections Minister with allegations Serco knew the names of those alleged to have attacked a Mt Eden prison inmate months ago and failed to do anything.
In the House this afternoon, Labour's Corrections spokesman, Kelvin Davis, claimed prisoner Alex Littleton, who broke both his legs while at the Serco-run private prison, had told the company the names of those who injured him earlier this year.
In a taped conversation released by his sister, Mr Davis says Mr Littleton told her the company was aware of those responsible for the attack, but nothing happened as a result.
"There were three attacking me, one was on the door. Serco know this. I told them all of this. They even wrote it all down. They've got all the names too. I named all the people to them that actually did it [sic]," the conversation went.
Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga was asked about the incident yesterday and reiterated today that he stood by his answer, in that he'd received no reports about the incident, which differed from Corrections boss Ray Smith's statement.
The statement released had interim findings from the chief inspector's report into the incident, which showed Mr Littleton had fallen from a balustrade and was attacked by one person. There was no suggestion of "dropping", in which people are dropped over a balcony in a hazing-type ritual.
Mr Lotu-Iiga received a report on the incident from Corrections staff, given to him last week. He wasn't aware of the conversation between Mr Littleton and his sister.
"What I accept is sadly, Mr Littleton and his whanau, that he was attacked and he suffered injury."
He had received a letter from Mr Davis about the incident on March 10, but it did not contain the man's name.
"How is it that he seems to always be the last person to know about these issues? Does he care or is he okay with sticking his head in the sand and allowing Corrections to sort it all out themselves?" Mr Davis asked.
Mr Lotu-Iiga "categorically rejected" the assertion.
Mr Davis has called for Mr Lotu-Iiga to be stripped of his portfolio.
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