On Sunday, December 2, 2007, 96 medals, including 2 George Crosses, an Albert Medal and 9 Victoria Crosses, were stolen from the Waiouru Army Museum, prompting outrage across New Zealand and overseas.
In June this year 39-year-old Ronald Van Wakeren was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to the theft of the medals and other unrelated dishonesty offences. In July 40-year-old James Kapa also pleaded guilty to theft and at Auckland District Court today he was sentenced to six years, ordered to pay $100,000 reparation, and his name suppression was lifted.
The Police had two clear objectives at the outset of the investigation - to recover the medals intact and undamaged, and to apprehend those responsible.
The officer who led the investigation Detective Inspector Chris Bensemann said: "I think the public would always remember us recovering the medals but I don't think it would have been remembered in a good light if we apprehended the thieves at the expense of the medals.
"It is important to celebrate the fact that both objectives were met and the investigation was so successful that those responsible were cornered; they had nowhere to go other than to plead guilty.
When I received the first phone call nearly three years ago I didn't immediately realise how major it was but it became obvious very quickly how huge the theft was and what it meant to the Army and the greater New Zealand community. Those working on the inquiry were always so determined to achieve the goals; they never lost sight of those goals and some of them were away from home for the best part of a year to reach those goals."
Detective Inspector Bensemann believes strongly that good must come from bad. He believes the relationship between the Police and the Army has been enhanced and says: "This case threw the spotlight on medal recipients, those who gave their lives. Blood was spilt for those medals and I think that the greater public, especially younger people, have a greater appreciation of the sacrifices made for us to live the lives we live now.
"It was a privilege to lead this investigation and today's conclusion is simply the result of a professional and dedicated team of investigators; the convictions were achieved by good old-fashioned detective work."
Detective Superintendent Rod Drew, commenting today from Police National Headquarters, said: "It is a tribute to the servicemen awarded the medals for their bravery, that a small police investigation team toiled tirelessly to first recover the medals, and then to bring the cowardly thieves to justice. It was a great effort!
"This was a difficult investigation which captured international attention, and was complicated by the perhaps dubious involvement of lawyers and some elements of the media. It is perhaps ironic that this dubious involvement led, in part, to identifying the thieves.
"How would we have felt today if our quest had failed? Recovery of the medals, and capture of the thieves, was of utmost importance to New Zealand, and to the New Zealand Police. This is an opportunity to thank the many people who contributed in some way, big or small."
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