Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Summer Wine]

Decorated colonel facing 'scandalous' court-martial

Colonel Selwyn Heaton
Sun, 29 Jun 2008 6:17p.m.

Colonel Selwyn Heaton has served 38 years in the New Zealand army. A decorated solider, he has served in Bosnia and Afghanistan, and his record is unblemished.

But now he is fighting for his career and reputation. A close family friend and former army wife says he is being persecuted.

"I just think it's shameful, absolutely a witch-hunt," says Pam Mitchell Lawton, friend of the Heaton family.

Col Heaton was seconded to the United Nations in New York in 2006 and 2007, and that's when it all went wrong. He claimed the UN housing allowance and, as has been the accepted practice for many years, claimed a New Zealand defence force housing allowance as well.

But that breaks UN rules, and the UN soon found out. Col Heaton claims he was dobbed in by a Kiwi military colleague.

"I understand it was common practice, it's not just something the Heatons have been involved in," says Ms Lawton.

The UN launched an inquiry and demanded the $8,000 be paid back. Col Heaton was hauled home.

But those close to him say he is a scapegoat as defence chiefs have known about the 'double-dipping' for years, and turned a blind eye to it at the highest levels.

"It implicates the New Zealand government," says Ms Lawton. "Essentially we have been ripping off the United Nations, knowingly and willingly."

Subsequently, the housing issue was dropped. It would have embarrassed and implicated some of New Zealand's most senior officers.

The Defence Force has refused requests by 3 News for information on Col Heaton's case.

Documents we have obtained show, even after the housing issue was dropped, Defence spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to nail Col Heaton on what it describes as financial irregularities. He will be arrested Monday and face a court-martial in Trentham. A 3 News investigation understands he will plead guilty to conduct unbecoming an officer.

It can also be confirmed the case relates to him allegedly breaching his duty free alcohol privileges, buying around 12 cases of hard liquor and 200 packets of cigarettes, some for a friend he had stayed with for five months rent-free in New York.

But these documents reveal just how hard army prosecutors pursued Col Heaton when the housing issue was dropped early on.

He brought new drapes for his New York accommodation at public expense. They accused him of bringing them home, which he did. He has since offered them back. No charges.

They accused him of hiring a stretch limo for a function at public expense. He did, to carry UN officials to a military ball. No charges.

They accused him of buying four bottles of French champagne for a New Zealand-hosted function at public expense. He did. No charges.

They accused his wife of buying Christmas mince pies and puff cases at a Feilding supermarket at public expense. She did, for $80 dollars in total. They were for a function in New York. No charges.

They hounded him over $10 of tax-free petrol which he had forgotten to account for. New Zealand's ambassador to the UN wrote to him about it and he apologised.

"I think they are desperate," says Ms Lawton. "The wheels of bureaucracy are spinning to really ruin Selwyn and his career."

These documents point to just how much the army has spent investigating Col Heaton: more than 300 hours of auditing and a military policeman sent to investigate in New York and Washington for two weeks. Col Heaton has been sitting at home on full pay since October. One army source told 3 News taxpayers have spent as much as $1 million chasing Col Heaton.

So tomorrow, after 38 years in the military, Col Heaton faces his day in court. He has told his friends this affair is "nothing short of scandalous".

3