Just leave the country, FBI fugitive told

The Immigration Service says fugitive American Juliette Gilbert, hiding in New Zealand with her 8-year-old son Sky, shouldn't hand herself in to them; she should just get on a plane and leave the country.

Ms Gilbert, 37, has been living in Tauranga with her new fiance, Bay of Plenty man Craig Henwood, but she left him last week.

She is wanted by the FBI for taking Sky from a joint custody arrangement with her former husband Roby in 2002.

Ms Gilbert has said she is preparing to hand herself over to the Immigration Service.

But spokeswoman Kathryn O'Sullivan said that was not necessary. "There's no reason for her to see us. She can just leave.

"She's unlawfully here but if she decides to buy a ticket, that's all we require her to do."

Ms O'Sullivan said if the Immigration Service had to take Ms Gilbert into custody and expel her, she would be subject to a 5-year ban from New Zealand and would have to pay the costs of her removal.

If Ms Gilbert did not leave, the Immigration Service would remove her with Sky as an overstayer, but she would be taken into custody only if she was a flight risk.

Ms O'Sullivan said the service did not mind where Ms Gilbert flew out to, as long as it was out of New Zealand.

Ms Gilbert said she removed Sky to get him away from his father, who she alleges was verbally abusive.

Roby Gilbert has denied that and said he is desperate to see his son.

Ms Gilbert said yesterday she hoped the time Sky and her former husband had been apart would make him a better father.

Ms Gilbert and Sky have lived in the Bay of Plenty, Kaikoura and on Great Barrier Island.

- NZPA