Russian army deserter caught in NZ

A Russian army deserter's world wanderings were interrupted by vigilant border control in New Zealand when his false passport was detected.

The Press newspaper reported today that Christchurch District Court was told Stefan Spirov, who used the name Justin Bowen, intended to stay in New Zealand for only six hours, but that was long enough for his false passport to be detected.

Spirov, 35, was jailed for 18 months by Judge Phil Moran after he admitted using a false passport. He has been in custody since December, and will soon be deported.

Judge Moran said the false passport was found during Spirov's brief visit on December 15 from Australia, his intent being to validate an Australian visa that enabled him to stay only three months at a time. He originally obtained the passport in England, and then travelled to Australia.

The newspaper reported that the judge said the background to the offending was Spirov's experiences in the Russian army.

He was conscripted at the age of 18, performed well for a while, but later took exception to being sent to fight, and was jailed.

"You managed to escape from imprisonment. You then spent about three years in Moscow before arranging to fly to London in 1994, where you sought asylum," the judge said.

But the application was never processed. Spirov decided to return to Russia to see his sick mother, and at that stage acquired the passport, Judge Moran said.

- NZPA