Refugee status for crime suspect

Tony Ryall

Refugee status was last year granted to a man with two charges of threatening to kill pending, National MP Tony Ryall claimed yesterday in Parliament.

Mr Ryall, who made the claim under parliamentary privilege, said the man was declared a refugee by the Refugee Status Appeals Authority, which knew of the alleged offences at the time.

The man arrived on a student visa and had spent time in jail for overstaying before the refugee declaration.

Mr Ryall asked Immigration Minister Paul Swain: "Is it possible for a person facing serious criminal charges to be granted refugee status? If so, why?"

Mr Swain said under the United Nations Refugee Convention refugee status could be denied if a person had committed serious crimes overseas.

If charges were laid in New Zealand "then refugee status could be granted, but it would not automatically lead to the granting of residence," he said. "A refugee can be deported if the person is considered a danger to the community as a result of criminal convictions."

Mr Ryall: "How does he explain to law-abiding New Zealanders the fact that a foreign man with serious criminal charges pending for threatening to kill two New Zealanders can be granted refugee status by an appeal authority that knew of these offences?"

Mr Swain: "My advice would be that this has been around probably since the convention was introduced, certainly during the period of the 1990s when that member was a minister in the Cabinet."

Mr Ryall would not comment further outside Parliament.