Shock after mum-of-four Haley Terei is exposed for ‘blatant lie’ about her heritage so she could skip jail after she was accused of pulling off high-end burglary

An alleged gun thief has been caught abusing the country’s relaxed bail laws after she “blatantly lied” about being Aboriginal.

Haley Terei, 32, was granted bail in the Victorian Supreme Court in May and June on eight charges relating to a burglary at a luxury hotel, The Herald Sun reported.

The mother of four is accused of stealing seven firearms, ammunition, $470,000 in cash, gold nuggets and other valuables from a home in Hastings, south-east of Melbourne, in December.

Terei stated in an affidavit she filed with the court that she was an Aboriginal woman of the Yorta Yorta nation and that her cultural heritage had been “whitewashed” by her father after her Aboriginal mother died when she was three years old.

Prosecutors opposed Terei’s bail, arguing that she posed an unacceptable risk to the community because of concerns that she knew the stolen firearms were hidden and had access to them.

Judge Rita Incerti released Terei, citing new bail laws that require members of the judiciary to ensure that “the incarceration rate of Aboriginal people does not increase further unless there is good reason to do so.”

“This is definitely not an easy decision.”

“But when I look at Ms. Terei, a woman who has no access to her cultural heritage, who expresses a desire to receive cultural support to improve her life, and who herself is also struggling with great personal problems,” Judge Incerti said.

On Friday, it emerged in court that Terei’s claim to be Aboriginal was a complete lie.

A persistent policewoman searches through recorded phone conversations she made while in captivity.

The phone calls revealed that her mother is not Aboriginal and is not dead. She is alive and well and living in New Zealand.

Terei’s bail was revoked after Judge Incerti called the lies about her Aboriginal heritage “disturbing”.

“It is alleged that Ms Terei claimed that she was Aboriginal on her mother’s side, knowing this to be untrue, in order for the court to consider section 3A of the Bail Act when she was not entitled to do so,” Justice Incerti said.

‘The telephone conversations from Arunta Prison provide compelling evidence that Ms Terei is not Aboriginal and that she sought to gain an advantage in her bail application by identifying herself as Aboriginal.’

A warrant has been issued for Terei’s arrest and she may face charges of obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 25 years.

In August last year, the Victorian Government announced reforms to bail laws.

According to a rack The reforms, announced by Premier Jacinta Allan, were intended to “make bail laws fairer for vulnerable and disadvantaged people, while still taking a tough approach to those who pose a serious risk to Victorians”.

The reforms are in line with key recommendations from the inquest into the 2020 death in custody of Aboriginal woman Veronica Nelson and the parliamentary inquiry into Victoria’s criminal justice system.

Opposition spokesman Michael O’Brien said he was not surprised that criminals were abusing the new bail laws.

“This case raises serious questions about how courts and others should apply laws intended for Victorian Aboriginal people when they depend on the honesty of those claiming that they are of that descent,” he said.

Evidence of Aboriginal descent in bail applications is provided to the court by means of an affidavit, usually based on the instructions of the accused.

Although Terei allegedly manipulated the reformed laws, Judge Incerti continued to maintain that this was an “appropriate” system.

“I see no reason why this should change or why an applicant or their legal representative should be required to do anything more than set out the basis of one’s Aboriginal ancestry, as has been done in this case,” Justice Incerti said.