Israeli agents behind bars

By BERNARD ORSMAN and EUGENE BINGHAM

Two men believed by senior Government figures to be Israeli secret service agents are behind bars after pleading guilty in the High Court at Auckland yesterday to a charge of trying to obtain a false New Zealand passport.

Lawyers for Urie Zoshe Kelman and Eli Cara did not seek bail when the alleged Mossad agents entered guilty pleas on a single charge of participating in an organised crime group in an attempt to unlawfully obtain a New Zealand passport with Zev William Barkan, 37, and a fourth, unknown, person.

Police concede Barkan has fled the country, and the fourth person has never been identified.

Justice Judith Potter remanded Kelman, 30, and Cara, 50, in custody for sentencing on July 15.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail.

The change of plea was a surprise, but it emerged after the hearing that the men had indicated to police and prosecution lawyers several days ago that they wished to admit the offence.

Prosecutor Fletcher Pilditch said the crown had agreed to lay an amended indictment with one charge instead of the three they had faced.

Cara, who has been staying at Auckland's President Plaza hotel since the Weekend Herald broke the spy scandal in April, turned up at court yesterday wearing a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie.

Kelman, 30, wore a balaclava to court to hide his face. A tall, slim man with freckles, short red hair and glasses in April, he had dramatically changed his appearance. He sported a pitch-black beard, black hair and wore a dark suit and scarf and came prepared with a blue backpack.

Before being escorted away by court security staff, the two men shook hands with an unknown Israeli. Cara gave a smile and a wink.

The group of four had been in and out of the country since November last year. Cara has travelled in and out 24 times since October 2000.

The Auckland District Court heard in April the visits last year were to obtain a false New Zealand identity for Barkan. They made a passport application using a birth certificate of a cerebral palsy sufferer who authorities say was an innocent victim of the scam.

Justice Potter yesterday granted the victim permanent name suppression.

A police source told the Weekend Herald that officers were concerned the group might have used the scam to obtain other passports.

The head of the inquiry, Detective Inspector Bruce Good, said he was pleased that the men had changed their plea, even though they had only faced up to the one count.

He praised Internal Affairs and police staff involved in the operation.

"Hopefully it might deter others from trying to come to New Zealand to obtain passports. We treat our passport very, very seriously," said Mr Good.

He refused to comment on the alleged Mossad links.