Migrant scam exposed

By ALAN PERROTT

A Papakura man fled from a McDonald's restaurant in Greenlane after trying to get money from an Asian couple to be paid to a supposedly corrupt immigration official.

The incident followed a month of threatening calls and approaches from two people demanding $27,000 from an Indonesian couple who are seeking New Zealand residency.

Isaako (Isaac) Kerisiano Pula could be heard across the carpark yesterday demanding a part payment of $4000 to illegally get work permits for the couple.

He left only after being confronted by their lawyer, Olinda Woodroffe.

She pursued Mr Pula to a white Mitsubishi Pajero, registered under his name, saying that what he was doing was illegal and that the police were investigating his actions.

Isaac Pula, a Samoan, is listed in the electoral roll as a singer and sells cassettes bearing his picture at the Otara Market.

A credit check showed he has a long history of problems with debt collection agencies.

Mrs Woodroffe said her clients, who do not want to be identified, had been terrified and were worried for their safety after what she termed persistent harassment.

They arrived in New Zealand five years ago and were given refugee permits.

They have changed apartments and phone numbers in a vain attempt to shake off Mr Pula and his partner, who uses the name "Amina".

The Weekend Herald has heard several phone messages left by "Amina" on the couple's phone over the past month.

In one, she said: "My contact rang this morning and he needs to know what's going on, otherwise he will put an alert on your file."

She claimed to know a corrupt official in the office of Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel who could issue work permits.

No one under the name she gave is employed by the minister's office or the Immigration Service.

Yesterday's meeting was set up after attempts by "Amina" to get full payment became more threatening.

Mrs Woodroffe said the woman's last call, at 11.45pm on Thursday, said work permits could be issued within 24 hours if the couple paid a down payment of $4000.

A meeting was set up for 10am at the McDonald's restaurant, and the police were notified.

"Amina" tried three times to change the venue to One Tree Hill before agreeing to send her husband.

The Weekend Herald has visited Mr Pula's home and called his cellphone number, but has been unable to contact him.

Lianne Dalziel congratulated the Weekend Herald on exposing the scam.

"I'm full of admiration for the Herald exposing a scam like this, and it must act as a warning to the Asian community," she said.

"There are sharks who want to take advantage of people. When this happens, they must complain to police."

She said there had been many instances of people getting large amounts of money from unwary immigrants by falsely claiming to have exclusive access to her office.

Ms Dalziel said she would lay her own complaint over the extortion attempt with police on Monday.

Immigration consultants and lawyers said Asians were seen as easy targets.

David Ryken, the Auckland Law Society spokesman on immigration issues, said many Asian migrants were desperate to leave their home countries, where they had seen corruption as a fact of life.

"I have heard of tens of thousands of dollars changing hands here, where people think they are going to get help that never comes."

Immigration consultant Gene Leckey said he could write a book on the scams on offer.

"Nothing surprises me any more. People get desperate and will clutch at anything."

Senior Sergeant Gavin McDonald from Otahuhu is investigating the case, but could not be contacted.

Herald feature: Immigration