Danny (left) and Roberto Jaz in the Christchurch District Court Photo: Supplied / POOL
One of the brothers convicted of rape and drink spiking at a Christchurch bar has reportedly been assaulted behind bars.
Danny and Roberto Jaz were named as the pair found guilty on dozens of charges, including rape, assault and drink spiking, linked to the central city bar Mama Hooch after suppression orders lifted last week.
The pair were scheduled to be sentenced on 24 and 25 August.
The New Zealand Herald has reported that Roberto Jaz, the younger of the pair, was involved in a confrontation a day after he and his brother were publicly outed as the duo found guilty on a string of charges.
Christchurch Men's Prison acting director Garron Starr said staff responded to a fight in a day room on Friday involving two prisoners and "de-escaled the situation".
"Staff reviewed CCTV footage and identified one of the prisoners had been assaulted an hour earlier in an exercise yard by two prisoners, including the person involved in the day room incident.
"None of the prisoners involved required medical attention.
"The perpetrators will be charged with misconduct."
Starr said police had been advised and would determine whether any further charges would be laid.
"We have a zero tolerance for violence policy, and any violence or assaults against other prisoners or staff is not tolerated in prisons.
"Any prisoner using such behaviour will be held to account for their actions."
The Department of Corrections would not comment to RNZ on whether one of the prisoners was Roberto Jaz.
The Herald reported a source who said Roberto Jaz might have been working in the prison kitchen given his experience as a chef before he was arrested for years of sexual offending against young patrons of his family bar.
The alleged offenders were said to have "bashed Roberto for the rape" and had gang connections.
Both Jaz brothers were now in protective custody and might remain there for the duration of their time in prison because "they are very, very unpopular", the source said.
Danny Jaz previously managed the Mama Hooch bar on Colombo Street, while Roberto was a chef at the neighbouring Italian restaurant, Venuti.
Both repeatedly committed sexual assaults to varying degrees of severity while employed at the venues.
The brothers used their positions to drug victims by spiking or allowing others to spike their drinks.
They were then involved in raping, assaulting and filming the drugged victims - the majority of which were aged between 18 and 24 years old.
The siblings also "graphically" discussed the acts on a WhatsApp group chat.
The Christchurch District Court case involved 30 women and two men and took place over nine weeks earlier this year.
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