Man charged under people-smuggling law

An Australian man accused of trying to help a foreigner to enter New Zealand illegally has been charged under new people-smuggling legislation.

Long Truong, 43, appeared in the Manukau District Court yesterday charged with willfully assisting a person to arrive in New Zealand without a visa.

The charge was laid under the Immigration Amendment Act 2002 after Truong arrived in New Zealand in late May.

A Customs Service source said a second person was found to be travelling on a fake passport.

Truong was listed in court papers as being a truck driver from Canley Heights, New South Wales.

Defence lawyer Pradeep Singh said Truong "had not been well financially" when he met someone who "advanced a passport for a person going to New Zealand for a visa".

Truong was to collect money, take a cut and pass on the remainder to someone else.



"He has learned a sore lesson from this," Mr Singh said.

Judge Heather Simpson said the serious case "struck at the whole root of the passport system". She remanded Truong on bail until a hearing on August 14.