N.Z. alert on Fulcher ‘not received’

Press, 2 January 1985, Page 5

N.Z. alert on Fulcher ‘not received’

NZPA-AAP Sydney A record of an alert concerning outstanding warrants for convicted drug trafficker and “Mr Asia” associate, Peter Fulcher, could not be found, said the New South Wales Corrective Services Minister, Mr John Akister, yesterday. Mr Akister said his department had determined that no communication had been received from the

N.S.W. police about Fulcher, who had been in Parklea Prison serving an 18-year sentence for heroin trafficking. Fulcher was released on December 6 on the authority of the Federal AttorneyGeneral’s Department. He is wanted in New Zealand on serious charges, including armed robbery and drug dealing. New Zealand authorities alerted the police in Aus-

tralia that Fulcher was wanted. The N.S.W. police have said that they notified the Corrective Services Department by telex and telephone that Fulcher had warrants outstanding. The police said a member of the Consorting Squad was told Fulcher’s prison record would be amended to show the warrants. Mr Akister said his department’s officers had been

unable to find any records of either alert. He said he was not convinced a telephone call was made, as a record of any such call would have been made. He said the officer in charge of the department’s facsimile machine, on which a telex would be received, was in hospital and could not be interviewed. Mr Akister said he expected a full report on the matter by today.