13 October 2004

Zaoui Expenses Exceed $1.2million – NZ First

Taxpayers have forked out nearly $1.215 million for convicted terrorist Ahmed Zaoui and there is regrettably no sign of an end to his case, said New Zealand First associate immigration spokesperson Dail Jones.

Mr Jones today released figures provided by the Immigration Minister that showed the estimated Zaoui costs until the end of September were $1,214,930.19.

“This does not include costs incurred by the Security Intelligence Service, nor the latest highly expensive legal moves made on behalf of Mr Zaoui at the expense of taxpayers.

“Families struggling to make ends meet will be dismayed that so much money is being wasted on an individual who should never have been allowed to get off the plane into New Zealand.

“The Zaoui case is a disgrace. There is no convention in the world that says we have to take in people who arrive with false papers and a history of being banned from other countries.

“This man is a parasite who should be sent packing on the first available flight back to where he came from. We don’t need him, we don’t want him and we certainly don’t want to keep paying his bills,” said Mr Jones.

ENDS

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