Fed: Evans moves to cancel visa of man jailed over police murder

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2010
Fed: Evans moves to cancel visa of man jailed over police murder

Immigration Minister CHRIS EVANS is moving to cancel the visa of a Tongan man who's
serving a prison sentence for his part in the killing of a NSW policeman.

MOTEKIAI TAUFAHEMA was sentenced to 11 years jail for the manslaughter of Senior Constable
GLENN MCENALLAY in 2002.

The earliest he can be released from prison is March 2012.

The Sydney highway patrolman died after chasing a stolen car driven by TAUFAHEMA and
carrying three other men.

TAUFAHEMA faced deportation to Tonga on his release but successfully appealed to the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal .. which overturned the decision on grounds that his daughter
.. who's seven years old .. was born in Australia.

The federal court upheld the tribunal's decision .. rejecting an immigration department
move to cancel TAUFAHEMA'S visa.

Senator EVANS says the law allows ministerial discretion to set aside the tribunal decision.

The minister could then cancel the visa on grounds there's reasonable suspicion the
person failed the character test and that cancelling the visa's in the national interest.

AAP RTV mb/af

KEYWORD: MCENALLAY EVANS (CANBERRA)

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