Court flies drink-driver from Alice to Darwin and back in ‘mix-up’

The administrative stuff up saw the woman flown to Darwin by mistake where she was immediately released and sent back again.

A Local Court judge has been forced to apologise to an Alice Springs woman after she was mistakenly flown to Darwin for a court appearance after which she was immediately released from custody.

A LOCAL Court judge has apologised to an Alice Springs woman after she was mistakenly flown to Darwin for a court appearance after which she was immediately released from custody.

Melissa Rubuntja, 37, was convicted of drink-driving while disqualified with two young children in the car earlier this month and was handed a suspended sentence so she could complete residential rehab.

Rubuntja had been earlier remanded in custody in the Alice Springs Local Court so she could be assessed for the rehab program but an administrative stuff-up saw her forced to appear in person before Deputy Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris, who had since returned to Darwin.

When a visibly distressed Rubuntja was brought into the dock, Ms Morris realised an error had occurred and apologised for the “mix up”.

“She’s meant to be in Alice Springs … she’s been brought up, is that why she’s upset?” Ms Morris said.

“I’m really sorry Ms Rubuntja, you’re meant to be in Alice Springs and they’ve brought you all the way to Darwin.

“There was an error in the registry in Alice Springs and they put the wrong thing on the warrant and that’s why you’re here.”

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Ms Morris sentenced Rubuntja to six weeks jail, suspended immediately and directed court staff to organise a flight back to Alice Springs later the same afternoon so she could check into the rehab centre.

“We have a really high rate of car accidents in the NT compared to everywhere else,” Ms Morris said.

“These rules are in place in relation to drink-driving and seatbelts and disqualifications in order to try and reduce the accidents we have on the road.

“I warn you, don’t drive disqualified, drunk or sober, with your record, you would be looking at a jail sentence.”