Senior navy officer allegedly encouraged junior officer to kiss them

Judge William Hastings presiding over the trial of a senior Navy officer, for their conduct during an overseas operation in Fiji in 2023. Photo: RNZ/Lucy Xia

A senior navy officer is facing a Court Martial over their behaviour during an operation in Fiji in March 2023, where they allegedly encouraged a junior officer to kiss them.

The hearing is sitting at the Devonport Navy Base in Auckland.

The military prosecutors have charged the senior officer with behaviour likely to prejudice service discipline.

Judge William Hastings has declined an application for interim name suppression, saying that the threshold for extreme hardship for the defendant and undue hardship for their family members hasn't been met.

However, the defendant's name cannot be published yet pending an appeal.

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Senior navy officer allegedly encouraged junior officer to kiss them

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