PM learned about Sroubek via media

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern found out about Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway’s decision to grant residency to Karel Sroubek in the media.

Sroubek, a drug smuggler who is serving a prison sentence, entered New Zealand in 2003 under a false Czech Republic passport in the name of Jan Antolik and gained residency in 2008. This was granted under the sports talent category because he was the world kick-boxing champion at the time.

Ardern said her first reaction when finding out about it was to question the minister.

Some of the statements in the media didn’t quite match up with what Lees-Galloway had to deal with, she said. ‘‘What is unusual is some of the basis of the minister’s decision has been contradicted by other information in the public domain.’’

It now made sense to go back and work alongside immigration officials to determine what should have been available and if that affected the decision in this case, she said.

The decisions from the courts and parole board were not made known to the immigration minister when they should have been, she said.

However, Ardern wanted to find out what information was available to each party before the decision was made, and where the gaps were.

‘‘But what we need to do is get this case right, and look at whether or not there are any systemic issues that need to be dealt with.’’

Ardern said Lees-Galloway denied he was lobbied to keep Sroubek in the country when asked in the House on Tuesday.

When asked if it was important for the minister to have absolute discretion to make decisions on immigration, Ardern felt it was needed to avoid litigation.

‘‘You wouldn’t want decisions to be relitigated or to be consistently challenged through a litigious process.’’