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An Auckland immigration agent, jailed for more than two years for fraud, is not receiving proper health care in Paremoremo prison, his lawyer says.
Romney Lavea, 38, was sentenced this month to two years and seven months' jail on four charges of using a forged document and 20 of supplying false information to the Department of Labour. He had been found guilty in the Auckland District Court of arranging forged job offers for his clients and of using the documents in immigration applications.
Lavea has appealed against both his convictions and sentence.
His lawyer, Chris Comeskey, told the Court of Appeal in Wellington yesterday that Lavea had a range of medical conditions that meant he needed help with toilet matters and could not properly dress, or wash his lower body.
There had been an "equivocal statement" from prison managers that staff would not assist with his hygiene requirements.
He said the law said that if a sentence was disproportionately severe for someone, it ought not to be imposed, and home detention would be more appropriate for Lavea.
Justice Ellen France gave the Crown until Friday to make a written reply.
The district court heard that Lavea arranged false offers of employment to satisfy criteria for residence applications.
- NZPA
