SENTENCING IN NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST PASSPORT FRAUD

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000020

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/ANP, DS/IP/EAP, DS/ICI/CR, DS/CR/PF, DS/IP/ITA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PINS TSPL NZ
SUBJECT: SENTENCING IN NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST PASSPORT FRAUD
CASE

REF: 04 WELLINGTON 911


1. (U) Following their conviction for conspiring to commit
forgery in October (reftel),refugees to New Zealand Iraqi
Fahad Jaber AJEIL and his brother-in-law, Kuwaiti Riyad
Hamied SULTAN, were sentenced December 20 in the Auckland
District Court. Ajeil, who had been found guilty on 14
forgery-related charges, received a five-year prison term,
and Sultan, guilty of only one conspiracy charge, was
sentenced to two years in prison. The Crown Prosecutor had
asked for eight years for Ajeil and three to four years for
Sultan. (Note: Ajeil's conviction for possession of
implements of forgery, for example, carries a maximum jail
term of ten years.)


2. (U) While this case has been described as the largest of
its type in New Zealand, in handing down the sentences Judge
Nicola Mathers expressed doubt as to how and when the forged
documents were to have been used - whether for use in acts of
terrorism or, as the defense lawyer alleged, to provide
temporary residence documents to stateless Bedouins in
Kuwait. While she noted the seriousness of the crimes,
Mathers then stated that the offenses were not at "the top
end of the scale." In handing down the sentence, Mathers
referenced the role played by Kuwaiti Dr. Abu-Shaaban, who
the defense maintained was the ringleader of the operation,
and who was charged with conspiracy in absentia. She noted
that the NZ Police's inability to speak with Dr. Abu-Shaaban
was a matter of concern.
Swindells