Former Iraqi officials not welcome

2 May, 2005 11:44 PM2 mins to read

Paul Swain

Immigration minister Paul Swain says a former Iraqi diplomat was told to leave the country because he had been part of Saddam Hussein's government.

The Department of Labour yesterday revoked the visitor's permit of an Iraqi man who was a diplomat in Saddam's government.

The man and his wife entered New Zealand last year to visit family and they later applied for residence. They have two weeks to appeal the decision.

Labour Department deputy secretary for immigration Maryanne Thompson said today the man had disclosed to New Zealand staff in Bangkok he had worked for the Iraqi government.

Those staff had done checks and discovered he was a retired ambassador, but failed to note that on the man's computer file.

Mr Swain said the department's moves to revoke the visitor's permit followed allegations last week that a minister in Saddam Hussein's government was in New Zealand and had applied for refugee status.

"The department tells me that no such application has been lodged. However, I instructed the department to investigate further. Details of the diplomat's background were discovered during the course of these investigations."

Mr Swain said the man was not suitable to remain in New Zealand for two following reasons:

* He had a role in Saddam Hussein's oppressive regime

* The nature of his residency application and its resulting low priority means it would not have been processed in the foreseeable future.

"Taking these factors into account, this man is not someone who should remain in New Zealand and his permit has been revoked. The couple will be obliged to leave the country as soon as possible," Mr Swain said.

"This case has highlighted some shortcomings in the department's information systems. I have been assured that these systems will be strengthened through improved use of client information records (known as AMS)."

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters raised the case last week, and said yesterday he would reveal "the true facts" about the former ambassador today in Parliament.