Bridges claims Sroubek forced family into witness protection programme
WELLINGTON: An entire family were forced into witness protection as a result of criminal behaviour by Czech man Karel Sroubek, National Party leader Simon Bridges claimed in Parliament yesterday.
Mr Bridges asked Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern whether she was aware of the case of the family, which he said were forced into New Zealand’s witness protection programme as a result of the actions of Mr Sroubek, for which he faced criminal charges.
Court documents showed an associate of Mr Sroubek sought to give evidence against him in an upcoming trial by video link because of fears for his safety.
The application was denied, but the High Court at Auckland was told in July 2010 that the associate was allegedly threatened by Mr Sroubek and two other men with connections to the Hells Angels over a deal gone bad.
The court was told Mr Sroubek, or Jan Antolik as he was known then, went to his associate’s home with the two other men and assaulted him and threatened him with a knife over a debt of $12,000.
They took his watch and his partner’s car, but made it clear the money was still owed, the court documents alleged.
‘‘After this incident, [name withheld] went to the police and he and his family were placed in the witness protection programme.
‘‘Even so, [name withheld] says that two anonymous threats were made to his immediate family after he had made his complaint to police.’’
Ms Ardern told Parliament that she had said many times that there were a range of reasons the Government had gone back to Immigration New Zealand for more information.
‘‘When we are in a position to share more about information around the case then we will do so.’’
Mr Bridges questioned whether Mr Sroubek was the kind of person Immigration Minister Iain LeesGalloway should give residency to.
‘‘Residency already existed. The decision put before the minister was around a deportation order. He made that decision based on information put in front of him,’’ Ms Ardern said.
‘‘Is a criminal, with charges so serious that an entire family went into a witness protection scheme, someone who should have residency in New Zealand?’’ Mr Bridges asked.
Ms Ardern said she would not discuss specifics of the case but said there were well over 100 such cases National dealt with while in Government.
‘‘We need to get this decision right.’’
She said earlier yesterday she did not blame officials or Mr LeesGalloway for the botched handling of the saga.
She said the main issue for her was figuring out why important information about Sroubek was not put in front of the minister in the first place. — NZME