An Auckland couple have avoided prison after pleading guilty to a series of violent assaults against two children over six years.
As per Stuff, Ongoaere Tuakeu, 50, and Ngatamaroa Rakauroaiti, 52, appeared in Manukau District Court on Wednesday, facing nine charges of assault between them.
The pair were sentenced to nine months’ home detention by Judge Richard McIlraith after admitting multiple child abuse-related offences.
The children, aged between 5 and 11 and 9 and 15 at the time of the abuse, were described as inherently vulnerable.
It is reported that the victims had been placed in the care of Tuakeu and Rakauroaiti for about five years before being removed. During this period, the children were repeatedly assaulted with metal poles, wooden spoons, broomsticks, and other objects. Tuakeu reportedly threatened to withhold food and verbally abused the children, calling the older girl “evil” and questioning why she had to care for them.
The abuse extended to punishments for minor mistakes, such as errors while helping with Tuakeu’s online bingo games. On one occasion, Tuakeu forced a lit cigarette into a boy’s mouth for five minutes, while Rakauroaiti also struck the children with a metal pole and baseball bat.
The children eventually disclosed the abuse to friends and an adult, leading to the investigation.
Tuakeu’s lawyer, Jack Liu, said the sentence marked a significant fall from grace for his client, who has no prior convictions.
Judge McIlraith noted that both defendants were entitled to sentence reductions for pleading guilty early, showing genuine remorse, and agreeing to rehabilitation. While the Crown suggested prison was typical for such cases, the judge deemed home detention appropriate.
As part of their sentence, the couple must complete anger management and non-violence programmes, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, and comply with post-detention conditions.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
