Romanian duo in court over fake Hungarian passport used in alleged immigration scam

Two Romanian men were granted interim name suppression in the Auckland District Court today when they appeared in connection with an allegedly forged Hungarian passport. Photo / Nick Reed

Two Romanian men arrested for allegedly using a forged Hungarian passport and other documents in an attempt to deceive Immigration New Zealand in London were granted interim name suppression when they appeared in court today.

A 40-year-old man appeared in Auckland District Court today charged with knowingly using a forged passport.

Court documents seen by the Herald suggest the alleged fake passport may have been made between April 1 and April 30 this year and was purported to be that of a Hungarian national.

During the man's brief appearance he was granted interim name suppression by Community Magistrate Dianne Hale and remanded in custody until Monday, when a Romanian interpreter will be available.

Another man also appeared in the Auckland District Court today charged with supplying false documents to an immigration officer, and causing Immigration New Zealand to act upon forged documents.

He was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody until Monday.

It is alleged that on June 29 the 34-year-old went to New Zealand House in London and allegedly supplied a false letter of his employment in support of a visa application.

According to court documents the letter was from the company Kesz & Go.

An online search by the Herald reveals Kesz & Go is a car rental service in Hungary, which offers services out of the Hungarian capital Budapest and city Kecskemet.

Both men were listed as living on Auckland's North Shore.

Police said they arrested both Romanian nationals in Auckland city yesterday in relation to "organised criminal activity and a range of immigration offences".

Police said the two men were "both key figures in a large, international organised crime group involved in credit card skimming and the production of false identities".

Immigration New Zealand had no further comment.