The agency said when a refugee is convicted of serious offending, INZ undertakes an assessment of their liability for deportation.<\/p>\n
Syrian refugee Ahmad Al Hoean, 34, was jailed for more than 10 years when he appeared for sentencing on Friday after being found guilty by a jury on 16 charges related to sexual offending.<\/p>\n
These included two counts of rape and multiple charges for indecent communication and sexual connection with a young person.<\/p>\n
The woman\u2019s message to other survivors was that they were not alone, nor were they to blame. <\/p>\n
\u201cYour voice matters. You deserve to be heard, protected, and respected.\u201d<\/p>\n
The M\u0101ngere Refugee Resettlement Centre. Photo \/ Doug Sherring<\/p>\n
In her victim impact statement, read in the Manukau District Court by prosecutor Charlie Piho, she said the abuse began when she had just arrived in New Zealand and resulted in her losing her virginity in a \u201csavage way\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is one of the most important things in my religion, it is sacred,\u201d she said in the statement.<\/p>\n
She wrote that depression and fear became her \u201cbest friends\u201d and she suffered academically.<\/p>\n
\u201c[It] turned me into a totally different person than I was, Ahmad hurt me in every way. <\/p>\n
\u201cAhmad destroyed my life, he never cared that I was a girl.\u201d <\/p>\n
Judge David McNaughton told the court a summary of the offending said it began when Al Hoean was 28 and victim was 14.<\/p>\n
Both were staying at the M\u0101ngere Refugee Resettlement Centre with their families.<\/p>\n
Judge McNaughton said the offending there occurred in a bathroom.<\/p>\n
Al Hoean also sent the girl pornographic material.<\/p>\n
Convicted sex offender Ahmad Al Hoean. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
After leaving the refugee facility, Al Hoean and complainant moved to different towns, but were within driving distance.<\/p>\n
The offending continued and it included Al Hoean playing violent pornographic videos and pressuring the teenage girl to have sex, which she refused.<\/p>\n
He later raped her on two occasions.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was bleeding and crying,\u201d the summary said.<\/p>\n
Judge McNaughton said Al Hoean continued to deny the offending or that he knew she was 14.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe jury rejected your explanations, and so do I.\u201d<\/p>\n
He told the court Al Hoean\u2019s probation officer said: \u201cAt no time did you show any remorse for your offending or any empathy for your victim.\u201d<\/p>\n
Judge McNaughton said there were multiple aggravating factors to Al Hoean\u2019s offending.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way that you groomed her, breach of trust, some of the planning that was involved here, obviously a vulnerable victim. Physical and emotional harm, which progressed to more and more serious offending over a period of two years.\u201d <\/p>\n
As well as this, Al Hoaen exposed the girl to \u201cviolent and extreme\u201d pornography and painful rape.<\/p>\n
Judge McNaughton gave the man a sentence starting point of 11 years in prison.<\/p>\n
No discounts for remorse or a guilty plea were provided. And despite having no prior convictions, no good character discounts were applied given Al Hoaen\u2019s \u201ccallous disregard for the complainant\u2019s welfare\u201d.<\/p>\n
The judge said the only sentence credit he could grant was a six-month reduction for the alcohol, gambling and drug prevention courses Al Hoaen had completed.<\/p>\n
M\u0101ngere Refugee Resettlement Centre was approached for comment, but the facility referred the Herald to INZ. <\/p>\n
INZ refugee and migrant services general manager Fiona Whiteridge said the M\u0101ngere Refugee Resettlement Centre was designed to provide a secure and supportive environment for people beginning their new lives in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI deeply regret that this was not sufficient to protect a vulnerable young person in our care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whiteridge said Al Hoean stayed at the facility for nearly three months several years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe harm caused by the sexual offending perpetrated by Mr Al Hoean on another refugee during their time at the centre was not reported to Immigration New Zealand. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe deeply regret that we were not made aware earlier, as this meant we could not provide support to the affected individual when it was most needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said INZ only became aware when contacted by police, and since then the agency had been working closely with them.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore arrival, all quota refugees undergo comprehensive security and health screening in partnership with international agencies. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis process includes identity verification, background checks, and medical assessments to help ensure community safety and individual wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said INZ was committed to protecting vulnerable individuals and regularly reviewed its practices to provide as safe an environment as possible for refugees.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will of course look to see if any more could have been done to protect the young person.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whiteridge said recognised refugees may only be deported in very limited circumstances. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a recognised refugee is convicted of serious offending, INZ undertakes an assessment of their liability for deportation under the Immigration Act.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a recognised refugee is found to be liable for deportation, the case is referred to INZ\u2019s Refugee Status Unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Associate Immigration Minister Casey Costello is overseas and unavailable.<\/p>\n
The offending took place prior to her appointment.<\/p>\n
Katie Harris is an Auckland-based journalist who covers issues including sexual assault, workplace misconduct, media, crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2020.<\/p>\n