Government Should Not Attack Zaoui Lawyers - New Legislation On National Security Certificate Needed

“I am requesting that my colleagues in our Labour-Progressive Government stop attacking Ahmed Zaoui’s defence lawyers” said Progressive Deputy Leader the Hon Matt Robson MP today.“ Deborah Manning and Richard McCleod have fought hard for their client and his rights as they are bound to do. Neither the lawyers nor the Refugee Status Appeals Authority should be attacked if we are to uphold the integrity and independence of our justice system,” said the Progressive Party Deputy Leader.”

“What the government needs to ensure now is that Ahmed Zaoui is afforded all his legal rights to answer the unknown accusations levelled against him by the SIS. It is bad enough that he was railroaded to the maximum security of Paremoremo and held there for over 10 months on a flawed and inaccurate Police Threat Assessment Notice without now further breaching the Bill of Rights by depriving him of knowing what he is alleged to have done and who is making those allegations.”

“I have held talks with the Police at the highest levels “ Said Matt Robson, “ and they have acknowledged that their advice to the Corrections department on Mr. Zaoui , and on which Corrections relied ,was inaccurate. Mr. Zaoui clearly will have the right to claim for wrongful imprisonment. He may be the first litigant to go to our Supreme Court.”

“The Labour-Progressive government to which I belong should now ensure that the lawyers for Mr. Zaoui know the full nature of the allegations against their client so that justice is served and we restore our battered image “

“I am preparing amending legislation, which I will discuss with the Attorney-general, to ensure that the issuing of a national security certificate does not deprive any accused of their ability to defend themselves and that it does not railroad them to jail. I will be seeking the support of all other parties for the amending legislation” said Hon Matt Robson.

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