New SIS watchdog to be named this week

By KEVIN TAYLOR

A new Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security is likely to be announced early this week, says Prime Minister Helen Clark.

The person, who by law must be a retired High Court judge, will fill the gap left by Justice Laurie Greig's resignation last month.

He quit after the court ruled he showed apparent bias over comments relating to the case of Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui.

His replacement will have the job of reviewing a security risk certificate issued by the Security Intelligence Service against Mr Zaoui, who has been held in prison since arriving in the country claiming refugee status in December 2002.

Last week Helen Clark said nobody had volunteered to take on the Inspector-General's role, but she told the Herald on Saturday that an announcement was expected early this week.

The appointment comes as some in the Labour Party agitate for Mr Zaoui to be freed from prison or given a fair trial.

A remit to Saturday's Auckland-Northland regional party conference that he be granted refugee status or be given a fair trial drew much comment but was defeated on voices.

Another remit that Mr Zaoui be given refugee status and freed immediately was also defeated.

The Weekend Herald reported that the Refugee Status Appeals Authority decision to grant Mr Zaoui refugee status has been criticised by France and Belgium, where he was tried on minor charges related to alleged terrorist links.

Asked how the authority could know more than the French and Belgian courts, Helen Clark replied: "That's a very good point. They took what Zaoui's advocates said, and that wasn't balanced by listening to the case of those who found against him."

Herald Feature: Ahmed Zaoui, parliamentarian in prison

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