Couple sentenced for immigration and identity fraud

A 50-year-old man was today sentenced to 3 years prison and a 44-year-old woman was sentenced to 11 months home detention for using false identities and forged documents to obtain visas and residence in New Zealand.

The couple, who have interim name suppression, were sentenced at Auckland District Court after pleading guilty to 16 charges of immigration and identity fraud.

In 2011, the pair arrived in New Zealand using the identities of Hungarian nationals who were known to them. Over the next 5 years, they submitted a series of fraudulent visa applications, including visitor, work, residence and citizenship applications, using forged documents and false declarations.

The man had previously been convicted in Hungary for forgery and corruption, and both defendants deliberately concealed this history from Immigration New Zealand (INZ). They used forged birth certificates, qualification documents, and an adoption order to support their applications, including those for the man’s biological son.

MBIE National Manager Investigations Jason Perry said the couple’s offending came to light following an investigation by INZ, during which the man admitted to the deception. The woman declined to be interviewed. 

“We take identity fraud extremely seriously. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of the systems we have in place to detect and investigate such offending. We will continue to pursue those who attempt to undermine the integrity of our immigration system and hold them to account,” Mr Perry said.

“This was not a one-off lapse in judgement. It was a sustained and calculated deception over many years. The defendants exploited the goodwill of New Zealand’s immigration system and undermined its integrity.

“The scale and sophistication of the offending is deeply concerning. It involved multiple layers of deceit, including the use of real identities, forged documents, and false declarations across a range of visa categories.”

Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) investigators worked diligently to detect and disrupt the attempt to obtain a citizenship and other entitlements through fraudulent means. 

“This case highlights the sophisticated methods some individuals use to manipulate identity systems, and the importance of robust security measures and strong inter-agency collaboration,” Mireille Johnson, Manager Investigations says.

“We remain committed to protecting the integrity of New Zealand’s identity and citizenship systems and ensuring that those who attempt to exploit them are held to account.”

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