INZ Sroubek investigation complete

WELLINGTON: Immigration NZ has completed its initial investigation into the residency case of Czech drugsmuggler Karel Sroubek and has passed the findings to him for a response.

Sroubek has until the next Friday to respond, which is right on the deadline for Immigration NZ to complete its investigation.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Immigration Minister Iain LeesGalloway have said they would like the results as quickly as possible.

Sroubek’s case has dominated political headlines as the National Party has called for Mr LeesGalloway to be sacked for what they say was an incompetent decision.

The minister decided to cancel Sroubek’s deportation liability, even though Sroubek had gang associations and is in prison for smuggling MDMA.

He then ordered a review of the decision after a court document noted Sroubek was twice granted leave to travel to Europe in 2009, which potentially contradicted the reasons why Mr LeesGalloway granted residency in the first place.

In a statement, INZ said the initial findings were complete.

‘‘Immigration NZ has presented the findings to Mr Sroubek and given him the opportunity to comment and provide his views on any possible decision.

‘‘Mr Sroubek has been given until Friday 23 November to respond. INZ will then review any comments from Mr Sroubek before his case is presented to the Minister.

‘‘INZ cannot make any comment on the content of its initial findings.’’

On Tuesday night Sroubek’s mother, Mila Sroubkova, speaking to Radio NZ’s Checkpoint, said her son was not a gangster and pleaded to Mr LeesGalloway to give her son one final chance. — NZME