NZ alarm at Tonga crime letter scam

Hundreds of Tongans with criminal records may have got into New Zealand on the strength of letters written by senior Tongan police officers declaring they had clean criminal records when they did not.

And diplomatic and police sources in the Pacific say the scandal may extend beyond Tonga, to Samoa – where name changing is a common ruse and has allowed at least one convicted murderer into New Zealand – and Fiji, where clearing letters can be corruptly obtained.

Immigration New Zealand says it was ‘‘extremely concerned’’ by Tongan Police Commissioner Grant O’Fee’s revelation that his inquiries had identified 33 people who were given letters declaring they had no criminal records when it was known they did.

‘‘I have no doubt there are more than 33,’’ Mr O’Fee said.

Tonga still has paper-based court records for convicted people and these were now being checked against clearing letters obtained. Sources said the scam could involve hundreds of names.

Mr O’Fee said Tonga was alerting Australian, New Zealand and US authorities.