PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority

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Refugee Files Court Proceeding to Summon Immigration Boss

By Inside PNG 24/07/2024

A refugee who has been battling with the Office of the Immigrations and Citizenship Authority has filed another court proceeding to summon the Acting Chief Migration Officer (ACMO), Wellington Navasivu to appear in Court for the recent charges laid against him.

Masum Mozumder, a refugee who had laid formal complaints against Navasivu, says he did not drop the charges against the accused.

He said he was shocked to learn from one of the daily newspapers that the Police Commissioner dropped all the charges and cited reasons that the matter is before the court.

Lawyer representing Mozumder, Solomon Wanis said the case before the court between Immigrations and his client was an appeal filed against the Court’s decision to grant his client Refugee status.

He said that appeal, was however withdrawn by the state on Monday (22nd July 2024).

Following the Court’s decision in December 2023 to grant full refugee status to Mozumder, he initiated the process to have the Acting Chief Migration Officer arrested for deprivation of liberty.

On the 9th of July, Navasivu was arrested and charged at the Boroko Police Station for;

– Unlawful Detention

– Attempt to pervert the course of justice and

– Abuse of Office.

He was later released on his “own recognizance” by NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Commander, Silva Sika.

“Own recognizance” is a legal term referring to a type of release that does not require the defendant to post bail and is based on a written promise by the defendant to appear in court when summoned.

It is alleged that Navasivu, as the Deputy Chief Migration Officer in charge of Compliance and Enforcement Division with PNG Immigrations and Citizenship Authority signed a detention notice dated 15th August 2023, for Mozumder, a Bangladeshi refugee to be detained and deported.

His actions allegedly defied court orders that were on foot pending the determination of the December decision.

Following this arrest, Navasivu’s office released a brief explaining that “he signed the approval to detain the Bangladeshi man in compliance with the Migration Act and ICA’s duty to protect our community from non-citizens who can cause harm to our community”.

Since the arrest of Navasivu, the matter is yet to appear before the committal court in Waigani for arraignment.

Wanis said it seems police have shelved the case, therefore they are asking the court to intervene.

On behalf of his client, he is seeking the court’s orders to compel the Police Commissioner and the Arresting Officer, Mr Philip Otto who are both named as the 2nd and 3rd Defendants respectively, to bring Navasivu (1st Defendant) to face the charges against him.

Mr Wanis pointed out that section 37 (3) of the Constitution states “A person charged with an offence shall, unless the charge is withdrawn, be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time, by an independent and impartial court.

He also pointed out Section 55 of the District Court Act, where it states “A person taken into custody for an offence shall be brought before a Court or a Magistrate as soon as practicable after he is taken into custody.

Files were served to all the defendants on Wednesday (25th July, 2024).

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International

Authorities Investigate How Chinese Drug Suspect Obtained PNG Passport

By Inside PNG 28/03/2024

PAPUA New Guinea’s Immigration Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso, has revealed that the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority office is investigating how Mei Lin, also known as ‘Gigi’, a China-born businesswoman accused of orchestrating a methamphetamine “black flight” in March last year, was able to obtain her PNG citizenship.

This follows the publication of an investigative news article by Inside PNG and partner OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) on the 26th of January this year that revealed Mei Lin appeared to have falsified key parts of her citizenship application.

Mei Lin Arrest — Mei Lin arrested in Brisbane. [[Photo credit: Australian Federal Police]]

Mei Lin, 41, was charged in Brisbane in January by the Australian Federal Police for allegedly helping to facilitate the smuggling of 71.5kg of methamphetamine (or crystal meth) with a street value of over K33million from PNG to Australia last year by light plane; in what police have argued was intended to be the first of a series of smuggling attempts.

According to the PNG Police and the Court, the dangerous drug was packed in over 80 small plastic bags and was transported to Bulolo Airstrip and was transported by air on a black-flight to Australia. Mei Lin has pleaded not guilty, before the Court in Brisbane.

Inside PNG and international partner OCCRP, in January revealed in an investigative report how Lin, a powerful businesswoman in the city of Lae, built a web of ties with prominent PNG citizens. She owns dozens of businesses including KC 2, located at Lae’s 7th Street, where 71.5 Kg of crystal meth was stored and then transported to Bulolo.

The report also revealed that she appeared to obtain PNG citizenship in 2016 by falsely claiming to have attended two elite local schools in the capital city, Port Moresby.

“We understand that the person that was arrested is a PNG citizen, and Immigration is currently investigating the process of how she got her citizenship,” PNG’s Deputy Prime Minister and Immigration Minister, John Rosso, told Inside PNG in Lae last week.

Among other details, Inside PNG and OCCRP’s January investigation revealed that Lin’s 2016 citizenship application included a letter — rife with grammar and spelling errors — purporting to confirm her attendance at Port Moresby Grammar School that school authorities say was signed by a non-existent staff member and labelled the document as fraud.

This follows a joint investigation in June 2023 by Inside PNG Investigative Journalists and OCCRP who visited the schools Mei Lin claimed she attended in Port Moresby when applying for her PNG citizenship. The school Administrations of the two elite schools, Port Moresby Grammar and Port Moresby International confirmed that Mei Lin has never attended these schools, nor graduated from these institutions.

Inside PNG met with then PNG Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau last year and revealed how Mei Lin got her citizenship. Hulahau shockingly told Inside PNG that there would be an inquiry into how she got her citizenship, however, that didn’t happen.

Immigration Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, John Rosso at a press conference speaking about the investigation into allegations against PNG’s former Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau.

Lin’s questionable citizenship application is not her only entanglement in PNG’s immigration system.

Reporting by Inside PNG and International Partner OCCRP and other media has also revealed that companies linked to Lin have benefitted from a controversial Australian-funded program to care for refugees that is now being probed for corruption.

Australian authorities have also alleged that Lin ordered one of her accomplices to pay A$10,000 (US$ 6,546) to a Sydney bank account in the name of PNG’s then-chief migration officer, Stanis Hulahau, in order to obtain a visa to travel to PNG to take part in the drug trafficking scheme. Hulahau resigned in February and has not been charged with any crime.

However, Immigration Minister and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, told Inside PNG last week that the allegations are serious and investigations are underway by KPMG, to prove the allegations against the then Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau.

“Allegations are allegations until completion of all the necessary investigation and if prosecutions if any, this should be put in place,” said Rosso.

Meanwhile, 15 people have been charged over the March 2023 meth flight. Eight men, including six PNG nationals and two Chinese citizens, are facing trial in PNG. Lin was the seventh person charged in Australia.

An Inside PNG Investigation! ©

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News

Entertainer Visa Available

By Inside PNG 19/09/2023

The PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority says six visa types under the Entertainer Visa class is now available online on the PNGICSA website (www.ica.gov.pg)

Immigration Minister, John Rosso said the this was for the convenience of international artists, film makers, comedians, musicians, and cultural groups looking to travel in Papua New Guinea.

“The previous process required the entertainers to physically lodge their applications at a PNG diplomatic mission. This was not suitable considering PNG does not have diplomatic representation in all countries, that entertainers are often on tour and in countries which might have missions for only a night or two, and finding the time to submit applications in that manner was impractical,” minister Rosso explained.

The inclusion of six different visa classes under the Entertainer Visa type means artist’s wishing to come to PNG for entertainment-related purposes have the choice to now apply online instead of the traditional paper lodgment.

The Marape-Rosso government is advocating digital transformation and supports PNGICSA’s efforts to digitize its services.

“Progress is being made to introduce other visa types and categories online and that ICSA currently have over 13 visa classes now available online,” said Rosso

The visa classes available and accessible online include,

Film Maker (both commercial and non-commercial),
Comedian (commercial), Musician (commercial),
Gospel Group (charity) and
Cultural Group (charity).

The new arrangement is desired to promote the entertainment industry in the country and allow PNG to bring in world class artists.

A migration service fee is charged, and holders are eligible for extensions. Specific fees for new lodgment’s and extensions are available on the website.

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News

Online Visa Auto-Grant Function Reactivated

By Inside PNG 02/09/2022

IN an effort to reduce the high number of visa applications and turnaround time for clients, the Minister for Immigration and Labour, Bryan Kramer, reactivated the visa auto-grant function for selected visa classes on Wednesday (August 31).

Kramer said the visa auto-grant system operates independently, and when the applicant meets all the requirements of a selected visa class, the visa is automatically granted and emailed to their nominated email address almost instantaneously.

“This system is now available. PNG Immigration have used it before during the APEC in 2018, the Women’s Soccer World Cup and the Pacific Games in Port Moresby to facilitate large volumes of delegates. I want to reactivate this in a similar way but with strict conditions attached to the auto-grant letters,” he said.

The auto-grant only applies to visitors who apply online and meet all requirements under the visitor visa classes including Tourists (own itinerary and tour package), visiting relative, yacht person (crew and owner), easy visitor permit (30/60 days) and the Restricted Employment Visa.

The Minister said the auto-grant will allow tourists and visitors on short-term visits to get their visa granted immediately instead of waiting for seven days to get an approval.

He said the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) will step up its compliance and enforcement efforts to ensure visitors are complying with the conditions set out in the auto-grant letters.

“With limited staff on strength, I am taking this option so personnel in the department can concentrate on other visa categories that need careful assessment and consideration. The auto-granting of applications does not in any way compromise the integrity of our systems or pose security risks as there are border officers to monitor any unusual movements,” Kramer says.

Minister Kramer re-launched the auto-grant system at the PNG ICA Headquarters in Waigani, Port Moresby, witnessed by senior officials from the department, and the media.

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