Zaoui fees could hit $1m, says Winston Peters

By HELEN TUNNAH, deputy political editor

Ahmed Zaoui's fight against SIS claims he poses a security threat has cost taxpayers more than half a million dollars, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters predicting the real figure could be double that.

Bills for legal aid, Government lawyers, his refugee claim and jail have reached $558,906.

That still excludes fees for the lawyers of both Mr Zaoui and three Government departments tied up in court battles over the Algerian politician who the SIS says is a risk to national security.

Mr Peters, who wants Mr Zaoui deported, has been grilling the Government for months about the costs of his 16-month detention and legal fights.

Though Mr Peters was told in Parliament last week that known costs had reached about $360,000, the Weekend Herald has figures from Cabinet ministers showing the bills are far higher. Crown Law Office legal fees alone have reached $311,000, with more to come.

Legal aid bills of $174,000 will also rise, along with the bill for Government lawyers, because of an Appeal Court hearing next month, and from the recent High Court case which barred the then Inspector General of Security and Intelligence Laurie Greig reviewing the case.

Added to the $16,000 for Mr Zaoui's successful refugee claim, and $57,000 (excluding gst and overheads) for keeping him in jail, the total has already topped $558,000.

The Crown Law Office costs cover legal bills for the SIS, Corrections Department and the Immigration Service, and include preparatory work for the Greig case, and the Appeal Court case, but not the hearings themselves.

Mr Zaoui arrived in New Zealand in December 2002 on a false passport and claimed asylum. He was detained as a security threat, and last year a national security risk certificate was issued against him on the basis of unseen SIS allegations.

His legal team is fighting the credibility of that certificate, which the Government has the ability to lift.

Mr Zaoui has convictions against him in Belgium and France, linked to his political activities, and has been deported from three European countries.

New Zealand's Refugee Status Appeals Authority has questioned the robustness of his convictions, and says he is a refugee.

Corrections and Immigration Minister Paul Swain confirmed in Parliament this week that the final bill for Mr Zaoui would rise.

Mr Peters said the costs were an abuse of the taxpayer, and Mr Zaoui could be deported on the basis of the European convictions.

Herald Feature: Ahmed Zaoui, parliamentarian in prison

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