A judge has jailed a serial rapist indefinitely telling him that, as things stand, the community would not be safe if he was freed.
A New Zealand prison cell. Photo: RNZ
Pravin Fia Hari Prasad Kumar was found guilty of kidnapping and raping two women but successfully appealed the convictions. However, he was found guilty of the charges at a re-trial in 2013.
The women, aged 18 and 19, were driven to quiet areas in Auckland and attacked in 2008.
While in prison but appealing the kidnap and rape convictions, Kumar contacted of his victims to try to persuade her to retract her evidence.
He called his mother from jail, who diverted the call to the woman. She refused and gave evidence again at the re-trial.
At the High Court in Auckland on Thursday, Justice Williams told the 45-year-old he would be sentenced to preventive detention for each of the kidnap and rape charges.
"You continue to deny that you committed any offence blaming instead the victims, your bad luck with women, police conspiracy, occasionally even a judicial conspiracy. These factors make effective treatment very difficult, the experts say. As matters currently stand, the community is unlikely to be safe if you are released."
Kumar must serve a minimum of eight years.
