Thai paid $5000 for night in jail

By THERESA GARNER

A Thai visitor to New Zealand was paid $5000 of taxpayers' money for the night she spent in a police cell before being sent home by immigration officials.

As a High Court judge in Auckland considers whether another Thai woman deserves $250,000 for her own immigration experience, the Herald can reveal that Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel last year negotiated an out-of-court settlement with another Thai national.

The $5000 for the night in jail was part of an $11,780 settlement, including court costs and an apology from Ms Dalziel to Christchurch man Max Anderson and his now wife, Anong Sukdaeng.

Ms Sukdaeng, aged 28, now lives in Christchurch with Mr Anderson, 53, a computer engineer who spent more than two years fighting the decision to bar Ms Sukdaeng entry.

In a separate case, Justice Paul Heath has reserved his decision in the case of Pimthong Udompun, who is suing the Government for $250,000 after she was held in cells for 50 hours and refused entry in 1999 and 2000.

At the time, the Thai Embassy registered alarm at reports of its citizens being jailed as suspected overstayers or prostitutes.

Ms Sukdaeng's first application for a visitor's visa was declined because "she had not known me long enough, she was a single woman, and she did not have a good enough job to draw her back", Mr Anderson recalled.

He went to Thailand to collect her, and on their arrival at Christchurch Airport in February 2000, she was given a three-month visitor's permit.

But an official pointed out an endorsement in her passport by a New Zealand official in Thailand stating she needed a visa.

"The border officer informed me he had the authority to allow entry if he wished. He decided not to do so," Mr Anderson said.

"My friend was arrested and held in a cell. The following day she was deported."

"Can you think of anybody in the world who carries out their work without having to justify their decisions?" he said.

Mr Anderson told the Herald that Ms Dalziel made a personal phone call to him one Sunday morning last July offering the money in full and final settlement of the claims.

In a letter dated July 15, 2002, she also offered to pay for the issue of a new passport and delete any mention of the matter from immigration records.

"I hope you and Anong Sukdaeng will accept this offer and my personal apology for what has been a truly upsetting precursor to your life together," she wrote.

Ms Dalziel had earlier written to say she was satisfied with the refusal of entry. The turnaround followed a report by the Ombudsmen's office recommending compensation.

The general manager of the Immigration Service, Chris Hampton, also apologised to Ms Sukdaeng.