Simon Mareangareu jailed for 12 months on assault charges
A THUG police officer who punched a teen in the head and then cooked up charges against the boy and his mate has been jailed.
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A THUG police officer who punched a teen in the head and then cooked up charges against the boy and his mate has been jailed.
Simon Mareangareu, 54, mouthed a swear word as he learned his policing career was over and he would spend the next year behind bars.
Mareangareu was found guilty in June of common assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice after a four week trial.
The police officer — who previously had a spotless record and has saved the lives of three people — assaulted a teen during a routine interception in the early hours of Christmas Day 2014.
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The teen’s friend captured the assault on his phone, which was later deleted to cover up the crime.
The two teens were then charged with minor drug offences and assaulting police on the basis of a fraudulent brief of evidence cooked up by Mareangareu.
During their arrest, one of the boys was told his hopes of going to university were over.
“You’re going to be carting sh** for the rest of your life,” Mareangareu’s partner said.
One of the boys’ mother was later told by Mareangareu that he “could have loaded up” the boy with even more charges.
The charges were only dropped after one of the boys’ father paid an expert to recover the deleted footage which showed Mareangareu’s disgraceful assault.
Judge Jeanette Morrish said Mareangareu had shown no remorse and believed he was a victim due to widespread publicity of his trial.
“You exposed two teenagers to the risk of wrongful conviction... Your conduct was disgraceful and utterly abhorrent,” Judge Morrish said.
Mareangareu was jailed for 12 months and fined $5000.
Several supporters broke in to tears when the sentence was announced.