Refugee's appeal against sex assault, deception dismissed

An Iranian refugee who conned his Chinese flatmate out of $35,000, sexually assaulted her and attempted the same residency scam with another flatmate has had application for leave to appeal dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Moshen Aghabiggi, 35, was last year jailed for 6-1/2 years after being found guilty of attempted rape, sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, obtaining money by deception and attempting to obtain money by deception.

Aghabiggi appealed the Christchurch District Court ruling, saying there had been a miscarriage of justice but in May the Court of Appeal ruled the verdicts should stand.

The Supreme Court said none of the proposed grounds raised any matter of general or public importance.

The court said Aghabiggi was seeking to have it consider a second general appeal but nothing was raised to warrant granting leave.

- NZPA