Migrant smuggler faces 20 years' jail
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rodders
Valued Member
Joined: 25 Nov 2003
Posts: 134
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Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2004 6:50 pm Post subject: Migrant smuggler faces 20 years' jail |
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let's see what this israeli joker actually gets - slap on the wrists probably. 
An Israeli man convicted of New Zealand's first migrant smuggling charge is facing up to 20 years in jail and a $500,000 fine when he is sentenced tomorrow.
Jerusalem-based businessman Victor Chechelnitski will appear in Auckland High Court tomorrow morning for sentencing after his conviction in Manukau District Court in February on three people smuggling charges.
It was the first time the charge had been used by police under the Crimes Amendment Act, Counties-Manukau police spokeswoman Angeline Barlow said today.
"It has been good for us to have been able to use the migrant smuggling charge as well as be successful at it," Ms Barlow said.
"It's quite a big case really in terms of showing the seriousness of this and (that New Zealand is) not a soft touch."
In 2003, Ukraine nationals Serhiy Manyk, Iryna Manyk and Anatoliy Hushul each paid an associate of Chechelnitski $US7800 ($NZ11,950) for Israeli passports, a guide to take them to New Zealand and help getting jobs and accommodation here.
They were told they could not get New Zealand entry visas using their legal Ukrainian passports, according to a police summary of facts from the trial.
Israelis do not need entry visas to come to New Zealand.
The trio gave their details and photos to the associate and were later given the new passports.
In Kiev, Ukraine, this January, the associate introduced the trio to Chechelnitski, telling them he was their guide and would meet them in Bangkok a few days later.
The trio flew to Bangkok on January 23 and were met the next day by Chechelnitski, who asked for their Ukrainian passports, $US700 cash his associate had given them and a further $150 each.
He bought them all flights to Auckland for February 3, but none of them could board the plane because they lacked transit visas through Australia.
Chechelnitski then got $127 more from them and changed the tickets to fly via Hong Kong, for which they did not need transit visas.
While in Thailand he taught the men phrases and Israeli customs and advised them what to say if New Zealand authorities questioned them.
Chechelnitski and the Ukrainians flew from Bangkok to New Zealand on February 3, travelling on Israeli passports.
But when they arrived in Auckland, immigration officials found the Ukrainians' passports were false, having been made from a series of blank passports stolen in Israel last May.
Chechelnitski, a 34-year-old father of two children, declined to make a statement to police or to explain his actions.
The three Ukrainians are still in New Zealand awaiting trial on charges of producing false passports.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2866931a10,00.html |
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rodders
Valued Member
Joined: 25 Nov 2003
Posts: 134
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Jamie Smith
Valued Member
Joined: 18 Jan 2004
Posts: 104
Location: Auckland and Melbourne
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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And deported with a bit of luck. 
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