Passport-checks upgrade prevent more fraud

Timothy Selwyn

Internal Affairs says a case in which a passport was obtained under a dead baby's name 10 years ago could not be repeated now.

It said there was an upgrade to security checks on passports in 2003 which would prevent anyone else succeeding in such fraud.

Timothy Selwyn, 32, was this week sentenced to 15 months in prison on fraud charges, including obtaining the passport, a birth certificate, benefits and four Inland Revenue Department numbers under the names of dead people.

Selwyn used the false passport and birth certificate in 1993 and 1995 to gain $11,141.35 in unemployment and accommodation supplement benefits.

Passports Manager David Philp said online verification against Births, Deaths and Citizenship registers has taken place since 2003, thereby almost eliminating the possibility of tombstone fraud.

He said crimes such as those committed by Mr Selwyn were emotionally disturbing and very distressing for the bereaved family.

Selwyn was also sentenced to two months on a charge of sedition - inciting rebellion against the state - in relation to the incident when he put an axe through the window of the Auckland electorate office of Prime Minister Helen Clark.

The sentences are to be served cumulatively, meaning Selwyn was sentenced to a total of 17 months.

- NEWSTALK ZB, NZHERALD STAFF

* An earlier version of this story did not make clear that the passport security checks were put in place in three years ago.