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HOME > DISCUSSION TOPICS > CURRENT AFFAIRS

Add TopicAdd ReplyFIGHTING TO STAY? HE

SHOULD BE LOCKED UP AND

DEPORTED ASAP.bob (1698)

Just a bastard

3 years ago

Edited 3 years ago

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10514954

quote:

An Iraqi man convicted of immigration fraud after an investigation by police into possible terror links is fighting to stay

in New Zealand.

Salam Mansoor Abdelabbas Al-Bawi was sentenced to six months' home detention in March after admitting coming to

New Zealand on a false Danish passport and later applying for citizenship and a passport using the fake name John

Joseph.

The Department of Internal Affairs is investigating his citizenship, beginning a process that could lead to his

deportation.

Al Bawi, who came to New Zealand in 2000, has just opened the Fishmonger fish and chip shop in Birkenhead on

Auckland's North Shore - still under the name of John Joseph.

The court file, viewed by the Weekend Herald, shows Al-Bawi came to police attention in May 2005 after a

US$76,000 withdrawal he made from a Parnell bank was reported as a suspicious transaction.

Al-Bawi, travelling as John Joseph and with the New Zealand passport, took the cash with him to wartorn Iraq -

which the police special investigation team believed was a "a cause for concern".

Police found the identity to be fake after sending a copy of fingerprints to Denmark, establishing him as Al-Bawi and

revealing a violence conviction he had not declared on arrival here.

The court documents show Al-Bawi did not declare the cash to Customs as is required with all sums over $10,000.

Fuck our immigration situation is a joke.

Lied = gone.

RobW (571)

Deejay

3 years ago

Edited 3 years ago

I saw this too! Even bobdaktari would be pressed to find a point to defend the guy in this case.

This should be a case of: take DNA sample, multiple photos, jail for two years then straight to take to airport and flown

back to his homeland. And banned from ever entering NZ again.

There is no innocent reason for the trail of stuff he's done... While he was living in Denmark he beat someone up and

forced them to sign a notice of debt. WTF? That sort of behaviour is embedded in people - they do not change.

R

Night Rider (2319)

Non Sui Generis

3 years ago

Edited 3 years ago

RobW said:

While he was living in Denmark he beat someone up and forced them to sign a notice of debt. WTF? That sort of

behaviour is embedded in people - they do not change.

R

quote:

He said the dog could never be trusted again.

"You could not take that risk. Any behaviour it has is going to be inherent. You wouldn't be able to retrain that dog."

also in the news

bob daktari (4731)

chimp wrangler

3 years ago

Edited 3 years ago

RobW said:

I saw this too! Even bobdaktari would be pressed to find a point to defend the guy in this case.

too early to say

but I do agree with the revoke citizenship and begin deportation proceedings

can anyone explain why it has been three years since the Police found he had used a fake identity to reach the point

that the herald has a story on the guy?

Surely something should have been done about the indentity fraud in 2005

RobW (571)

Deejay

3 years ago

Edited 3 years ago

bob daktari said:

can anyone explain why it has been three years since the Police found he had used a fake identity to reach the

point that the herald has a story on the guy?

I agree. Especially since a common reason lawyers use to try to prevent deportation is: "oh they've been here for a

couple of years now.. don't be a meanie and send them home.."

They should add to legislation that time spend in NZ can't be used in immigration cases. No matter what. The threat of

having residency/citizenship revoked is surely a very powerful tool for ensuring people's compliance with our laws.

R

Night Rider (2319)

Non Sui Generis

3 years ago

Edited 3 years ago

RobW said:

I agree. Especially since a common reason lawyers use to try to prevent deportation is: "oh they've been here for

a couple of years now.. don't be a meanie and send them home.."

R

you absolutely sure about that?

Night Rider (2319)

Non Sui Generis

3 years ago

Edited 3 years ago

RobW said:

I agree. Especially since a common reason lawyers use to try to prevent deportation is: "oh they've been here for

a couple of years now.. don't be a meanie and send them home.."

R

you absolutely sure about that?

RobW (571)

Deejay

3 years ago

Edited 3 years ago

Night Rider said:

you absolutely sure about that?

Absolutely... oh, they're settled, and he's got a successful business now and his girlfriend is pregnant... let him stay

please.

I say: tough bikkies, outski on the next plane.

R

lynnettemoon (1)

1 year ago

This is now 2010. Do people realise that Al Bawi aka John Joseph is still living freely in the country.....receives a

generous welfare benefit and travels overseas.....Germany, Dubai, etc. Does anyone understand the fairness of

this?? He has a passport obviously and citizenship obviously...WHY?? Is this fair to struggling New Zealanders?

RubbaDuddub (14)

1 week ago

Front page news in The Herald today - Banned from NZ...but still on welfare (of $360 per week). What a crock

of shyte. This lying scumbag fraudster and weazel has been taking my hard earned tax dollars which this

government is supposed to be managing so well. Funny old thing, this whole matter was brought up in this thread

yonks ago. Now how come they didn't do something then already. Winstons right - Heads have got to roll. Well done

Jared Savage mate for bringing this lot out in the open. John Joseph was also suing the Herald and also NBR reporter

Jock Anderson - with another concocted set up again funny old thing supported by the same legal rascals from the

Kings Club (QC's).

Goes to show true integrity and morality has a price - just wondering how much it was.........sirs ?

Al Bawi aka John Joseph is also a key pin and player in exporting scrap from NZ being paid top dollar from a Dubai

company laundering money for an organised crime syndicate with links to drugs, prostitution and human trafficking.

Now naturally you will remember that Al Bawi aka John Joseph was also the New Zealand's star witness in the final

case (tribunal) against former "bad boy" lawyer Chris Harder of Auckland a leading defense lawyer who had his

career trashed when he was "set up" by Al Bawi the NZLS gangstas and a few other "legal" rogues and scoundrels.

At least Chris Harder is (according to rumour) doing great things in marketing and advertising and staying with the law

and even siding with the law still. Harder is still seen wondering (sometimes nonchalantly) around Auckland District

Court So much for your star witness NZLS.....front page headlines say a lot. Methinks the NZLS should possibly be

paying a visit to Chris Harder's door and asking for the only meal on the menu....."Humble Pie" - and probably cheap at

the price. Heard Chris had written a book - and really hope he sticks it to all involved in the final chapter. Chris went

from high flyer to grass roots in a twinkle that he didn't desrve. The NZLS and a few legal community members were

determined to shaft Harder and get him "out" of the law community and they did. A classic almost CIA style third man

set up and sting.

Comeon Chris get yer boots on and get yerself back on the roll and back in the game. Don't let the buggers get you

down.

From Companies Office

Your text to link here...

John Joseph (also known as Salam Mansoor Abdelabbus Al-Bawi)

Convicted under:

Section 377(1)(a) of the Companies Act 1993 for making a false statement.

Section 382(1) of the Companies Act 1993 for managing a business while prohibited.

Sentenced on 14 September 2010 to a fine of NZ$2000 plus NZ$130 court costs. (Probably paid for with my effing tax

dollars)

RubbaDuddub (14)

1 week ago

And Winston Peters never misses an opportunity to paddle in the Whaka does he...

Your text to link here...

RubbaDuddub (14)

1 week ago

From TVNZ report today - Good ole Winnie always a day late and a dollar short, but in the mix:

quote:

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is calling for accountability following revelations an illegal immigrant banned

from New Zealand was still receiving a $360 a week sickness benefit.

Salam Mansoor Abdelabbas Al-Bawi was sentenced to six months' home detention in 2008, after admitting he lied to

authorities to gain refugee status, residency, citizenship, and a passport in a different name, the New Zealand Herald

reported.

Al-Bawi's New Zealand citizenship was revoked and his passport cancelled, but Work and Income says it did not

know about that.

Peters says the two ministries have been tasked for some time with sharing critical information without breaching

privacy.

He says at any given time they have no idea who stayed on too long and who should have gone.

Peters says it is time people at the top were held to account and fired.

Work and Income head Janet Grossman says the department is continuing to look into the matter with the Department

of Internal Affairs and Immigration New Zealand.

She says if Al-Bawi ever returned to New Zealand, they would pursue the money owed.

jsavage (1)

1 week ago

Rubbaduddub - please contact me at jared.savage@nzherald.co.nz

RubbaDuddub (14)

1 week ago

John Joseph aka Salam Al-Bawi

On sickness benefits and fit as a fiddle carrying boxes. Would like to know what he was claiming from ACC for.

Injuries for being locked up as a common criminal in Iraq perhaps.......so we pay for his crime. Soft touch NZ.

Soft on crime soft on the causes of crime.......

And talk about Poachers turned Gamekeepers (NZLS) - wonder what Margaret Wong executive director of the Law

Society has to say now - after all the whole Harder saga happened on her watch.......I think she got it W(r)ong ,

don't you Margaret...? boy you must have thick skin or have your head buried so deep even radiation can't get to it....

CONVICTED FRAUDSTER HESKETH HEADS NEW ZEALAND LAW SOCIETY ETHICS COMMITTEE

CONVICTED FRAUDSTER HEADS NEW ZEALAND LAW SOCIETY

29 October 2010

A former District Court Judge convicted of 8 charges of fraud has been appointed to the Complaints Committee of the

New Zealand Law Society. Mr Robert Hesketh (pictured) fled the bench and was struck off as a lawyer after his 1997

criminal conviction. He will now sit in judgment of New Zealand lawyers who are the subject of complaint for alleged

unethical conduct.

The revelation has turned heads in a Law Society accustomed to unconventional appointments and chicanery.

Lawyer-turned-non-lawyer-turned lawyer-again Duncan Webb jumped from Law Society Committee Member three

years ago to become “Lay observer” over Law Society complaint appeals. Mr Webb was caught-out practicing without

a certificate after abruptly leaving this lay post in January 2009. The Law Society refused to open a file in relation to Mr

Webb practicing law without a licence, claiming they had no jurisdiction over “non-lawyers” even though their former

committee member was claiming to be a partner of Lane Neave in Christchurch.

WTF??????

RubbaDuddub (14)

1 week ago

Law society mystery man’s strange spy claims

what is interesting are the aged comments which are elow the article.

NBR staff | Monday November 09, 2009 | 3 comments

He may have done “favours” for the CIA and the SIS and helped the law society sink high-profile crime barrister

Christopher Harder’s legal career but time may be running out for an Iraqi mystery man fighting deportation.

As earlier reported by the National Business Review, Salam Mansoor Abdelabbus Al-Bawi used the name John Jacob

Abraham Joseph to falsely get residency in New Zealand, New Zealand citizenship and a New Zealand passport.

This week the Court of Appeal told Al-Bawi/Joseph to stop playing the system and face reality.

Unable to hear his appeal against convictions this week, partly because he did not have a lawyer, the court adjourned

the case until March or April next year.

In a strange set of circumstances Al-Bawi/Joseph – who was granted refugee status after arriving in New Zealand

under a false name in 2000 – became a person of interest for a special police unit investigating and monitoring radical

groups in 2005.

This was the same police unit that monitored the activities of people now known as the Urewera 18, suspected of, but

not charged with, being involved in armed terrorism.

By then a New Zealand citizen, police documents filed at court described Al-Bawi/Joseph as “a dangerous citizen” 

suspected of being “involved in insurgency and terrorism.”

Police, who discovered he had earlier received more than $200,000 from Lebanon, wanted to know why he appeared

to have lied to a bank to withdraw $US76,000 in cash before visiting Iraq.

International inquiries disclosed Al-Bawi/Joseph lied about his true identity to gain New Zealand citizenship, and had a

previous conviction in Denmark under another name for being involved in forcing a person to sign an admission of debt.

Against this background Al-Bawi/Joseph (now 34) was charged in early 2006 with a number of offences relating to

falsely obtaining citizenship and a passport.

After a deal was done and some charges were dropped, Al-Bawi/Joseph pleaded guilty in Auckland district court in

November 2007 to four charges involving giving false information to New Zealand authorities.

After several adjournments he was eventually sentenced to six months home detention at a court hearing held partly in

secret in April 2008.

It was at that hearing Al-Bawi/Joseph claimed he did favours for the Central Intelligence Agency and the New Zealand

security services.

He told the Court of Appeal this week of meeting police secretly at One Tree Hill.

He also earlier admitted helping private eyes hired by the Auckland district law society to build a case to have crime

barrister Mr Harder struck off.

Al-Bawi/Joseph was a former client of Mr Harder and gave evidence against him to the law practitioner’s disciplinary

tribunal.

At the time he was sentenced in 2008, Al-Bawi/Joseph was represented by specialist immigration lawyer David Ryken,

who Al-Bawi/Joseph claimed failed to advise him he could have a defence to the charges.

Faced being sent back to Iraq, where he claimed he could be executed, Al-Bawi/Joseph wanted his convictions

overturned.

Working mainly as a driving instructor, he also bought into a Fishmonger franchise in Birkenhead.

He hired Auckland barrister Paul Davison QC, who withdrew from the case the other day because he considered there

were no grounds to appeal the convictions.

Al-Bawi/Joseph told the Court of Appeal this week he also had “a lack of funds” to pay a lawyer.

While Al-Bawi/Joseph’s claims he was held in Baghdad’s Abu Grab prison, tortured and changed his name out of fear

for his life and the lives of family still in Iraq might make interesting reading, Justices Bruce Robertson, Rodney Hansen

and Patricia Courtney said they wanted him to deal only with his appeal against conviction.

He also has an application for judicial review of his refugee and immigration status.

“You have a lot of straws in the wind,” Justice Robertson told Al-Bawi/Joseph.

“But you cannot go on forever playing the system month after month.”

“The issue starts from the fact that, legally represented, you chose to plead guilty. Do you have a defence?” Justice

Robertson said, advising Al-Bawi/Joseph to get a lawyer.

COMMENTS

Round em up & ship em out- like any half sensible country would- NZ the bunch of suckers for illiegal immigrants

Anonymous | Monday, November 9, 2009 - 2:59pm

replyInteresting that this guy is a) been allowed to leave the country whilst on bail/with criminal charges pending b) has

had enough funds to leave the country recently . And we are going to let him back in??? ... And pay out of taxpayers

money a nice free ticket for him to leave again when we finally deport him. Whilst we pay for ACC, sickness benefits,

legal aid etc for him also while he is here, while he 'claims' he is 'unemployed'. Come on New Zealand wake up!

Anonymous | Saturday, January 23, 2010 - 11:51am

replyThis is December 2010.....do New Zealanders

realise that Al-Bawi is using the Welfare system....travels out of the country to Germany, Dubai, etc. His case drags on

and on. WHY? Why is NZ supporting him? His money must come from somewhere. Who can travel on a welfare

benefit? Do NZ'er's care???

Anonymous | Tuesday, December 28, 2010 - 2:59pm

RubbaDuddub (14)

1 week ago

So I guess the bottom line question is that although this lying scumbag terrorist pseudo refugee and benefits

bludgerer came to New Zealand illegally he was welcomed in by our immigration, enriched by our welfare system

and employed by the SIS, NZLS and various NZ Private Investigators (who probably also work for the State, ACC,

Immigration and the police and SIS) - was he given welfare benefits and residency in return for "dirty work"? A full

inquiry into exactly what roles Al Bawi aka John Joseph terrorist, refugee, con man, police informer, special agent and

drug cartel lynchpin played for the NZLS, the SIS, Police ATU and other government and regulatory bodies in return for

handsome welfare and other payments needs to be held. What we would really like to know is Who paid him for What

[or in return for what] and When.....

The truth is that this is how killer squads of the State start off, using the services of criminals to do State and agency

dirty work. New Zealanders have a right to know and want to know who knew what. But it's worse than that. Where

else was John Joseph "used" by agents of the state...? What else did he do in return for the benefits of residency and

welfare ? Was this"agent" used by the last government as well........A full declaration needs to be made by the

government of the day.

How many other "John Joseph's" are there being used by government and regulatory agencies in New Zealand? There

are hundreds of questions begging answers.......

This is a very dirty play by the state and state organs and a dangerous thin end of a political wedge in this country. I

really hope someone asks the Prime Minister these questions.

RubbaDuddub (14)

1 week ago

An old article from the New Zealand Herald which writes:-Link to NZ Herald article

Immigrant from Iraq leaves trail of lies

By Patrick Gower

5:00 AM Saturday Jun 7, 2008

An Iraqi man convicted of immigration fraud after an investigation by police into possible terror links is fighting to stay in

New Zealand.

Salam Mansoor Abdelabbas Al-Bawi was sentenced to six months' home detention in March after admitting coming to

New Zealand on a false Danish passport and later applying for citizenship and a passport using the fake name John

Joseph.

The Department of Internal Affairs is investigating his citizenship, beginning a process that could lead to his deportation.

Al Bawi, who came to New Zealand in 2000, has just opened the Fishmonger fish and chip shop in Birkenhead on

Auckland's North Shore - still under the name of John Joseph.

The court file, viewed by the Weekend Herald, shows Al-Bawi came to police attention in May 2005 after a US$76,000

withdrawal he made from a Parnell bank was reported as a suspicious transaction.

Al-Bawi, travelling as John Joseph and with the New Zealand passport, took the cash with him to

wartorn Iraq - which the police special investigation team believed was a "a cause for concern".

Police found the identity to be fake after sending a copy of fingerprints to Denmark, establishing him as Al-Bawi and

revealing a violence conviction he had not declared on arrival here.

The court documents show Al-Bawi did not declare the cash to Customs as is required with all sums over $10,000.

When he returned in August, he initially denied having been to Iraq before stamps in his passport were found.

He had been there twice on the three-month trip, as well as to Europe, Lebanon, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

He also claimed he was a Christian until a Koran was found in his bag and he admitted he was a Muslim.

Customs also described him as having "some sort of wound" on his head.

In the documents, Detective Sergeant Aaron Pascoe said: "We didn't know why Mr Al-Bawi had been to Iraq, but

we were certainly concerned it could have been for a reason that could have included being involved in

insurgency, terrorism."

Police also found Al-Bawi had previously received $200,000 from a person in Lebanon whom he would not name. He

had made two other trips overseas that year as John Joseph and was also spending up to $11,500 a month on toll

calls.

The documents show Al-Bawi's defence lawyer has said the money was lent by family members and was "nothing

sinister".

Detectives from the special investigation group searched Al-Bawi's Remuera home in February 2006, finding the false

Danish passport and other apparently fake documents.

Al-Bawi, then running a driving instructor business, was arrested and eventually pleaded guilty to four fraud-related

charges.

The court documents show Al-Bawi has said he fled to New Zealand from Iraq in 2000.

He said he was accused of being involved in a terrorist killing of an Iraqi security official in 1999, was

tortured until he admitted it and was then sentenced to death.

A 9mm pistol was found at his house. He said escaped from jail after his father bribed guards.

He eventually became a New Zealand resident.

However, the police investigations found he had entered Denmark in 1995 and had been there until coming to New

Zealand.

The criminal conviction he did not declare was for "loss of liberty with distress" when a man signed a notice of debt

after being "subjected to kicks and blows".

It led to Al-Bawi serving a four-month suspended sentence.

Al-Bawi's lawyer, Paul Davison, QC, told the Weekend Herald he was intending to appeal against the convictions on

the grounds that the guilty pleas were made without the right advice from an earlier lawyer.

If they were overturned, he said, it could "change the landscape" of any challenge to Al-Bawi's citizenship.

Al-Bawi would not comment yesterday.

WHO IS SALAM AL-BAWI?

*An Iraqi who came to New Zealand in 2000 on a false Danish passport as Mohamed Kharbouch.

* Obtained citizenship as John Joseph, claims he fled Saddam Hussein's brutal regime.

* Revealed as being Salam Al Bawi in 2005 after police checks revealed he came via Denmark where he had a

violence conviction.

* Now back using identity John Joseph, including on official Companies Office records for his fish and chip shop.

* New Zealand citizenship "being investigated", beginning a process that could lead to deportation.

By Patrick Gower

gummi_bear (2687)

gtfo haters

1 week ago

wtf is happening ITT

RubbaDuddub (14)

1 week ago

Hard working genuine honest New Zealanders are having their welfare and immigration systems milked and tax

dollars squandered willy nilly by lackluster lackadaisical NZ Government State organs and ministries acting in

connivance together and with agencies and regulatory bodies - thats wtf is happening. This thread proves it. Just

check the history of reports and comments back to the start and look at the dates. Speaks for itself. Winston Peters is

right - HEADS HAVE GOT TO ROLL.....if they don't it will prove....rotten at the top - rotten to the core.

RubbaDuddub (14)

6 days ago

An older pic of John Joseph aka Salam Al Bawi

Courtesy of The New Zealand Herald

NZ Herald Article on John Joseph Al Bawi

RubbaDuddub (14)

5 days ago

JOHN JOSEPH AKA SALAM AL BAWI COURTESY OF THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD

RubbaDuddub (14)

5 days ago

Refugee's immigration fraud conviction stands

Published: 8:28PM Tuesday August 03, 2010 Source: NZPA

An Iraqi refugee who lied about his true identity to get a New Zealand passport has failed to get his conviction for

immigration fraud overturned.

Salam Mansoor Abdelabbas Al-Bawi, 34, had claimed that he was not properly advised by his then lawyer, David

Ryken, about the implications of pleading guilty to the charges.

But the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, accusing him of ingratitude for what Ryken had done for him.

In their just-released decision the appeal judges said that Ryken had done very well to persuade the prosecutor to drop

a number of the charges.

He also did well in keeping Al-Bawi out of prison.

"Mr Al-Bawi, instead of being grateful for the excellent legal representation he received, now complains he was misled.

"We do not accept for one minute that he was so misled," the Court of Appeal said.

Al-Bawi was sentenced to six months home detention in 2008 by Judge Chris Field in the Auckland District Court.

His new lawyer, Paul Heaslip, told the judges that Al-Bawi had a good defence to the charges.

But the appeal court said there was no chance of success at all.

"No reasonable jury is likely to have accepted the argument that he honestly believed he was justified in his actions by

reason of fears for his family back in Iraq," the judges said.

Al-Bawi, who came to New Zealand in 2001 on a false Danish passport, claims to have been tortured by the Iraqi

authorities.

He admitted to the New Zealand immigration service that his passport was false, but did not mention that the name on

the passport was also false.

His application for refugee status, citizenship and a passport were approved in due course.

He was charged in 2005 when the police became suspicious that he was not who he said he was.

Al-Bawi claimed that Ryken told him he would be given a discharge without conviction in the district court.

But the appeal judges said they were satisfied that while he "gave it his best shot" he never told Al-Bawi that it was

guaranteed and indeed Al-Bawi knew it was a long-shot.

Heaslip also complained that Al-Bawi was not told he could apply to vacate his guilty plea.

However, the appeal court said that the district court would not have allowed him to change his plea in any event in

circumstances where, as the appeal court had concluded, he had no defence.

RubbaDuddub (14)

4 days ago

From The New Zealand Herald Saturday 14 April 2012

Head line - Under false pretences

By Jared Savage

5:30 AM Saturday Apr 14, 2012

Editors comment:-

Refugee Salam Mansoor Abdelabbus Al-Bawi, aka John Joseph, lied to New Zealand authorities, covered

up his shady past, was arrested here twice and then used the justice and beneficiary system to his

best advantage. The Weekend Herald investigates the 12-year tale of his master manipulation. Special

report by Jared Savage, Investigations Editor

John Joseph aka Al Bawi aka Salam Mansoor Abdelabbus Al-Bawi

From the moment he set foot in New Zealand, the man who called himself John Joseph started manipulating the system.

He fled here in 2000 after suffering persecution at the hands of the Saddam Hussein regime because of his Kurdish

heritage, telling authorities that he was accused of being involved in the terrorist killing of an Iraqi security official and

was tortured until he admitted the crime. Sentenced to death, Joseph escaped only after his father bribed the prison

guards, then made his way to New Zealand, using a Danish passport.

He then successfully applied for refugee status, New Zealand residency, citizenship and a passport. Life was good

and by this time Joseph was an instructor in the driving school he owned in Auckland.

But by December 2003, John Joseph would again find himself behind bars. He was arrested and charged with raping a

19-year-old girl who worked for him. Joseph denied any crime and said the sex was consensual. The charge was

later dropped as the complainant decided to not give evidence at the trial.

The detectives investigating the case took his fingerprints but there was no need to look further into Joseph's

background at the time.

"I remember the police officer in charge of my case saying to me that they didn't think it was even his real name. So it

wasn't a huge surprise to [learn his true identity]. I'm just very surprised that it took so long after my case to come out,"

the woman told the Weekend Herald.

Those fingerprints later proved to be crucial in discovering who he really was.

Court documents show Joseph again came to the attention of the police here in May 2005 after a US$76,000

withdrawal he made from a Parnell bank was reported as a suspicious transaction.

The Special Investigations Group (SIG) took an interest in the Iraqi and sent his fingerprints to Denmark, which

established his true identity as Salam Mansoor Abdelabbus Al-Bawi. He also had a different birth date.

Al-Bawi, travelling on his New Zealand passport as John Joseph, had also travelled back to Iraq.

Police also alleged Al-Bawi had previously received $200,000 from a person in Lebanon and had made two other trips

overseas that year as John Joseph.

The documents show Al-Bawi's defence lawyer said the money was loaned by family members and was "nothing

sinister".

His Remuera home was searched in February 2006 and the police found the Danish passport under the Joseph

identity.

The SIG inquiries also uncovered the fact that Al-Bawi, before claiming refugee status here as Joseph in 2001, had

already received asylum and residency in Denmark - as well as a violence conviction, which he had not declared on

arrival.

It emerged that Al-Bawi had fled from Iraq on a previous occasion, in 1995, this time to Denmark, before coming to New

Zealand. After successfully applying for refugee status in the Scandinavian country, Al-Bawi was was convicted in

1998 of "loss of liberty with distress" when a man was forced to sign a notice of debt after being abducted in a car

and taken to a deserted industrial area. He signed the debt notice after Al-Bawi threatened to kill him and was

"subjected to kicks and blows".

Al-Bawi was sentenced to four months in prison and spent a month in custody before he was released.

But for some reason, Al-Bawi left Denmark and returned to Iraq - where he was arrested to be executed - before

again escaping and coming to New Zealand in 2000.

After discovering his true identity - 18 months after the rape charge - the police laid a number of various immigration

fraud charges against him in February 2006. By this time, Al-Bawi was running his driving instructor business and had

a son with a woman he met here. The indictably laid charges are considered serious breaches of the Crimes Act, the

Citizenship Act and the Passports Act after Al-Bawi failed to disclose his original name and date of birth and his

previous criminal conviction in Denmark.

He later pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court and Judge Christopher Field sentenced him to six months' home

detention in March 2008. He said the type of offending had "severe consequences for the integrity and reputation of

New Zealand's international border security."

While standing in the dock, Al-Bawi then made the curious claim that he did "favours" for the CIA and New Zealand

security authorities.

He later claimed to have met with police officers secretly at One Tree Hill in Auckland.

Within two weeks of being convicted for lying to gain refugee status, residency, citizenship and a passport, Al-Bawi

signed a Companies Office form to become a director under the name John Joseph. The application form stipulates that

someone cannot become a director if they have been convicted of a dishonesty crime in the last five years.

The Herald revealed that Al-Bawi had opened the Fishmonger fish and chip shop in Birkenhead, on Auckland's North

Shore, after buying a franchise from a company owned by former Kiwis rugby league captain Richie Barnett.

At the time, Barnett said he was "blown away" by the revelation of the dual identity.

"He's a hard worker, the bloke. When this came up, we just went 'holy jeez - what's going on here?'

"He's enthusiastic, a damn hard worker and everything he's said has been spot-on. We couldn't believe it."

In explanation, Al-Bawi said he had signed the documentation without reading it properly. He later admitted guilty to two

breaches of the Companies Act in September 2010 and was fined $2000.

But a staff member who worked for Al-Bawi at the Fishmonger store told the Weekend Herald she believed he was not

so honest with customers.

"He was a very strange man [who] I did not feel safe around. He was also very dodgy around business and always

trying to cheat customers in small ways," said the woman, who asked to be anonymous.

She said the Fishmonger was supposed to be a fresh fish and chip shop, "sort of upper class", but Al-Bawi

purchased cheap supplies and upped prices.

"Every week it would be smaller amounts of servings, [he would] get us to give people gurnard instead of snapper,

when paying for snapper. That sort of thing, nothing big."

Around the time of the Companies Office convictions, Al-Bawi unsuccessfully tried to overturn his immigration

convictions in the Court of Appeal.

Al-Bawi claimed his lawyer at the time, David Ryken, failed to tell him the implications if he pleaded guilty. He claimed he

believed if he pleaded guilty he would be discharged without conviction and receive diversion. Al-Bawi hired leading

QC Paul Davison to appeal the convictions, but he later withdrew as there were no grounds to do so. Mr Ryken, an

immigration and refugee law specialist, rejected Al-Bawi's claims. So did the three Court of Appeal judges.

"Mr Al-Bawi's evidence, on the other hand, was often contradictory and at times completely untrue... instead of being

grateful for the excellent legal representation he received, now complains he was misled. We do not accept for one

minute that he was misled."

Justice Robert Chambers, on behalf of the Court of Appeal, went on to say: "We have seen him under cross-

examination - a much gentler and contracted cross-examination than he probably would have faced at trial. No

reasonable jury is likely to have accepted the argument that he honestly believed he was justified in his actions by

reason of fears for his family back in Iraq."

After the knockback on his convictions, the Refugee Status Appeal Authority determined Al-Bawi should never have

been granted refugee status because he failed to disclose he had "already enjoyed" residency status in Denmark. The

lack of disclosure was labelled "deceit" and an appeal to the High Court failed.

Then in May last year, the then Minister for Internal Affairs Nathan Guy made an order to revoke Al-Bawi's citizenship

and passport as authorities were unaware of his criminal offending in Denmark as well as his false refugee, residency

and citizenship applications. This amounted to "fraudulent conduct" said the Minister, allowing Al-Bawi to fulfil the

citizenship requirement of good character.

Again, Al-Bawi appealed the High Court in Auckland where Justice Graham Lang considered the merits of his case.

Lawyers for Al-Bawi said he did not refer to his original name and true date of birth because he feared those details

might alert Iraqi authorities to his presence in New Zealand.

"I find that to be an unconvincing explanation, particularly given the fact he had been living in New Zealand for more

than three years by the time he applied for citizenship," Justice Lang said.

"Mr Joseph knew the importance of the information that the form requested. The details that he failed to provide

effectively meant that the New Zealand authorities had no means of checking whether he was a person of good

character."

He dismissed the appeal in February and said the Minister had "ample grounds" to revoke citizenship.

"The manner in which Mr Joseph procured his citizenship counts significantly against him, as does the conduct that led

to his convictions in both New Zealand and Denmark."

While not all his legal battles to stay here have been funded by the taxpayer, the Weekend Herald can reveal that Al-

Bawi has received nearly $24,000 in legal aid. More than $10,600 was to keep his refugee status and another $13,213

to fight his criminal cases. Of the $13,213, nearly $8900 was to fund his fruitless bid to overturn his immigration

convictions in the Court of Appeal.

Al-Bawi was in Germany at the time of the High Court ruling and no longer has a New Zealand passport. He has been

refused entry to the country, despite having a young son here with his former partner.

The ruling means Al-Bawi is now stateless.

A spokesman for the Immigration Service said Al-Bawi does not hold a valid visa allowing him to travel to New Zealand.

However, the story does not end there. The Weekend Herald then revealed that Al-Bawi kept receiving a weekly

sickness benefit of $360 despite his citizenship being revoked in February.

In fact, Work and Income New Zealand was not even aware of the situation until contacted by the paper last week.

The department promptly cancelled the payments. He was paid a total of $2500 over seven weeks, which Winz head

Janet Grossman said would be pursued if Al-Bawi ever returned to the country. "This isn't good enough. We are

continuing to look into this matter with the Department of Internal Affairs and Immigration New Zealand."

The reassurance was not enough for Winston Peters, who called for heads to roll. He has said Government

departments had been tasked with sharing critical information for some time and it was time for accountability at the

top. Further inquiries can also reveal that Al-Bawi is a 99 per cent shareholder in an import and export business for car

parts in Auckland. The company, Partners Part Import and Export Ltd, was incorporated in October 2009 and struck off

in July 2011 - but re-registered on February 13 this year. This is around the time that he left New Zealand. Whether he

ever returns to the country is dependent on his success in applying for a visa.

"He is a master manipulator," said one source. "I have no doubt he will be back in New Zealand, if not under another

identity."

The history

* Sickness benefit: $360 a week, overpaid $2500 after his citizenship revoked

* Legal aid: $23,829.35 to fight his criminal and refugee court battles

* Born: Salam Mansoor Abdelabbas Al-Bawi on October 21, 1975.

* Citizenship as: John Jacob Abrahim Joseph on April 19, 1980.

* 2000: Arrived in New Zealand under the Joseph identity.

* 2001: Granted refugee status and residency.

* 2003: Granted citizenship and NZ passport.

* 2006: Police discovered his original name and true birth date and laid charges.

* 2008: Sentenced to home detention after pleading guilty.

* 2010: Convicted of Companies Office charges and fined $2000.

* 2010: Refugee status revoked.

* 2012: Citizenship and passport revoked.

Do you have any information that should be made public?

Contact the Herald's investigations editor at jared.savage@nzherald.co.nz

RubbaDuddub (14)

4 days ago

Data-match loophole let fraudster get benefit

By Jared Savage 5:30 AM Saturday Apr 14, 2012

An immigration fraudster would have received a $360-a-week sickness benefit despite being stripped of his New

Zealand citizenship unless authorities were alerted to an "exceptionally small anomaly" in data-matching records.

The benefit for Salam Mansoor Abdelabbas Al-Bawi was stopped only after the Weekend Herald contacted Work and

Income, which was unaware he was no longer a citizen.

Al-Bawi lost a High Court appeal in February against a ministerial decision to revoke his citizenship because it was

obtained by "fraudulent conduct". He was overpaid $2500 in benefits. He is unable to return to New Zealand because

he was overseas at the time of the court decision.

The Ministry of Social Development runs data-matching programmes with six other government departments, checking

millions of records each year.

But Al-Bawi's benefit would have continued because the ministry does not match records with the Department of

Internal Affairs or the Immigration Service for people whose right to live in New Zealand is revoked.

Ministry deputy chief executive Mike Smith said the agencies were "now taking steps to share information that will

close this anomaly".

"While these cases are extremely rare, it is important agencies share information where people are no longer entitled to

benefits because their residency status has changed."

Internal Affairs revoked two citizenships a year on average, and not all would be getting a benefit, he said.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows said he was satisfied the departments were "moving at

speed" to close the loophole.

Al-Bawi, who came to New Zealand in 2000, received nearly $24,000 in legal aid for a series of court cases, including

to keep his refugee status and to fight criminal cases, including his bid in the Court of Appeal to overturn his immigration

convictions.

He no longer has a New Zealand passport and has been refused re-entry, despite having a young son here with his

former partner. The ruling means he is stateless.

Further inquiries reveal he remains a 99 per cent shareholder in an Auckland car parts import-export business.

RubbaDuddub (14)

4 days ago

AndI have no doubt John Joseph aka Salam Al Bawi will read this from his dingy little hole in

Germany....from all the people of New Zealand who don't want you back......

kris_b (4120)

I.B.S. Local 1514

3 days ago

Wow.

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