Pair sentenced over illegal slaughter and sale of pigs

Following an investigation and prosecution by New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS), Suli Rachael Rejoice Adimin (age 43) and Bruce Baru Luke Vunipola (age 38) were sentenced in the Papakura District Court on 29 January on seven charges under the Animal Products Act, and one charge under the Animal Welfare Act.

NZFS deputy director general Vincent Arbuckle says the pair were operating a homekill business which was not registered as required by the Animal Products Act, meaning they were operating without a risk management programme.

“By failing to do this, they avoided meeting vital checks and balances in our food safety system that are there to keep consumers safe,” Arbuckle says.

“While someone buying one of these pigs may have considered it a great deal, their health was potentially put at risk because of the pair’s illegal behaviour.”

Following a complaint from a member of the public in July 2022 concerning the welfare of pigs on a farm and claims they had seen farmers killing and selling pigs an animal welfare inspector visited the property and spoke with Vunipola.

The inspector observed butchering facilities and a whiteboard with the names of customers and details on pigs sold. This led to a wider investigation, which included a covert food safety investigator buying a live pig to be killed on site for $310 cash in October 2022.

In November 2022, Vunipola was served a Notice of Direction under the Animal Protections Act prohibiting him from operating as a homekill provider as he did not have a registered risk management programme. He was provided education and information on how to operate legally, which he acknowledged understanding.

However, investigators subsequently found the illegal slaughter and sale of pigs continued when another cover investigator was offered a big for sale that same month by Vunipola’s associate, Adimin, for which the food safety investigator paid $220 in cash.

Adimim was then served with the same Notice of Direction as Vunipola, but investigators found the sales continued and charges were then laid against the pair.

“This was an organised operation. During the period of investigation, it was found they illegally sold 222 pigs and four sheep, for which they earned nearly $60,000,” says Arbuckle.

“The majority of operators in New Zealand follow the rules and understand the importance of doing so to keep consumers safe.

“When we find evidence of people deliberately flouting the law, we take action and there are consequences as we’ve seen from the court’s response.”

MPI strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 00 83 33.