REMEMBER WHEN

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 26, 1987

AN Iranian refugee who fled his war-torn homeland to start a new life on the Gold Coast was left penniless after Customs officials seized his “passport to freedom” – a Mercedes Benz.

Abbas Mohammadi – acting on advice from Australian diplomats in Tehran – sold virtually everything he owned and bought the luxury car on the black market in a clandestine and dangerous bid to transfer his assets to Australia.

But Brisbane customs officials seized the car and charged Mr Mohammadi, who spoke no English, with smuggling offences.

He pleaded guilty and was fined $2000 – a fine he could not pay, according to his solicitor Robin Reichelt.

Mr Reichelt called on the federal government to show some compassion.

He said the ordeal had left the man an emotional wreck and he was battling to support his wife and two young children.

“He is penniless and cannot even afford his legal fees,” said Mr Reichelt. “It is a sad story that the government, by blindly enforcing laws designed to catch smugglers, can cause such grave injustice to bona fide refugees and immigrants.”

Mr Reichelt conceded that 41-year-old Mr Mohammadi was technically guilty of smuggling the car into Australia because he had made false statements to customs officials.

“But he is certainly not in the class of someone who smuggles for a business,” said Mr Reichelt.

“He merely wanted to bring the car to Australia, sell it and set up his own importing-exporting business so as to not be a burden on the welfare system.