ARROGANT BUREAUCRATIC BUNGLERS LOCK INNOCENT MAN UP

And then think that a few words of apology fixes it. He's lucky he got out after only a month

Sydney man David Turbit was thrown into a maximum security jail for a month after a paperwork bungle caused his wrongful arrest. Mr Turbit, 38, is now claiming $250,000 compensation for the administrative error that incarcerated him in Silverwater Correctional Centre in June.

Mr Turbit, from St Marys in western Sydney, served nine months of periodic detention in late 2001 after being convicted of driving while he was disqualified. A warrant for Mr Turbit's arrest was issued in October last year because the department believed that he had failed to serve his full term.

In a letter dated July 18, the Acting Commissioner of the Department of Corrective Services, Ian McLean, apologised for the mistake. "I am informed your situation was caused by breakdown in the administrative process," the letter says. "I apologise for the inconvenience and anxiety caused."

But Mr Turbit said the apology was insufficient and has asked for $250,000 in compensation from the State Government. "I was very depressed and I tried to commit suicide. Luckily, my cellmate saved me," he said. "If they don't pay, I'll sue. I'm still having nightmares about being in there. "I was being held illegally in maximum security and they assumed I was a criminal. "I'm angry at the way they (the officers) treated me in there and then tried to cover up their mistake."

Late on Friday, the Department of Corrective Services offered Mr Turbit $60,000 compensation, but he rejected the offer as inadequate. Opposition justice spokesman Andrew Humpherson said Mr Turbit deserved to be paid compensation. "The letter is insulting. It suggests the only impact of this gross error is a little anxiety and inconvenience when it almost caused his death," he said.

"There are clearly catastrophic failings in record-keeping and communication within the prison system. The State Labor Government is overseeing a chaotic prison system which is expensive, ineffective and is imprisoning the wrong people. "Any person to which this has happened deserves some compensation for what is pure incompetence on the part of this government."

A spokeswoman for Justice Minister Tony Kelly said that he had instructed Corrective Services to provide an explanation for the incident. The spokeswoman said Corrective Services would respond within a week.

Report here



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