The Parole Board in a decision released to the Herald said Lavea denied the offending that led to his current jail term.
“He says that he is not a risk to anyone and that he has done nothing wrong.”
At his sentencing at Auckland District Court in October 2024 he wore an oversized poncho and gripped crutches.
Judge Evangelos Thomas allowed a 20% deduction for Lavea’s poor health.
Immigration New Zealand said Lavea exploited vulnerable immigrants within the Samoan community.
One mother told the court Lavea’s advice caused her to overstay in New Zealand.
“He recently had compassionate release back to Samoa …and we are told that there were no issues around that compassionate release,” the Parole Board said.
“While we accept that Lavea’s poor health might mitigate risk in combination with conditions, we are not satisfied it is enough to reduce his risk to below one that is below undue,” the board members added.
‘Chief’ claim rejected
“Lavea not only minimises the seriousness of the offending and the harm caused but is in outright denial that he has done anything wrong.”
The board said immigration advisers must be licensed for obvious reasons, including that they often assist people in vulnerable situations.
It seemed Lavea also tried persuading the board he was a matai (chief) but the board said it received assistance from someone who dispelled that narrative.
He had an appeal against conviction and sentence heard on May 13 this year and the Court of Appeal has not yet released its decision on that matter.
Lavea and a co-offender in the 1990s used the identities of seven dead children to obtain passports.
The Parole Board said the offending for which Lavea was now in jail occurred between 2011 and 2013.
The Sunday News in 2009 said Lavea was allowed to apply for home detention after the Court of Appeal heard he was too fat to go to the toilet by himself and needed help from two other inmates to complete his functions.
The Parole Board, in its most recent hearing for Lavea, heard the serial fraudster planned to get into education around health and disability.
“Of course, this places him in a position of trust, where he will be around vulnerable people, but Lavea denies that is problematic,” the board added.
Parole was declined, the board saying Lavea’s risk was undue.
He will be seen again in March next year.
John Weekes is a business journalist covering aviation. He also has more than a decade’s experience covering crime and courts.
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