Woman who claimed to be Indigenous in court on the run from police
Haley Terei claimed to be Aboriginal in court because she believed it would get her bail. Now, she is on the run from police.
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A woman who exploited the courts by faking she was Aboriginal to get bail is again in trouble with the law.
Haley Terei is on the run from police, who have gone public with their hunt for the accused criminal.
The 33-year-old gained notoriety in July after being caught lying about her cultural heritage to be freed from custody on serious firearms and burglary charges.
The mother-of-four submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court of Victoria stating she was an Aboriginal woman of the Yorta Yorta nation and that her cultural heritage had been “whitewashed” by her father following her Aboriginal mother’s death when she was three.
Prosecutors opposed bail, arguing Terei was an unacceptable risk to the community amid concerns she knew the location of stolen firearms and could access them.
However Justice Rita Incerti freed the woman, citing new bail laws which require members of the judiciary to ensure “incarceration rates of Aboriginal peoples are not further compounded unless there is good reason”.
In a remarkable twist, a police officer unconvinced of Terei’s supposed indigenous heritage started looking into her background and calls she made while in prison.
They revealed Terei’s mother was not Aboriginal and is alive, living in New Zealand.
Her “blatant” deceptions were exposed in court, where it was foreshadowed that Terei may face a charge of perverting the course of justice, which carries a 25-year maximum jail term.
The case raised wider concerns with the court system’s ability to protect and uphold justice in line with the new bail law requirements.
It is at this stage unknown who signed off her affidavit of Aboriginality.
On Friday, Victoria Police declared Terei a wanted woman and called on the public to help find her.
“Warrants have been issued for the arrest of the 33-year-old in relation to a burglary where firearms were stolen,” a police statement read.
It was also alleged she breached a court order.
“Terei is known to frequent the Hastings and Craigieburn areas.”
She is approximately 158 centimetres tall, medium build and hazel eyes.
An image of Ms Terei, issued by Victoria Police, shows her with bright red hair.
Haley Terei was initially granted bail in May and June on eight charges related to a high-end burglary in which seven firearms, ammunition, $470,000 cash, gold nuggets and other valuables were stolen from a Hastings home in December.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Originally published as Woman who claimed to be Indigenous in court on the run from police
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