24 Oct 2003

Korean not deported from American Samoa says Immigration officer

5:01 pm on 24 October 2003

American Samoa's Chief Immigration officer, Ufuti Ieremia says the Korean citizen who was removed from the territory earlier this month, was not deported but departed voluntarily.

Immigration agents saw Seong Lim Heo board a flight to Apia on October 3rd after his sponsorship with local corporation Samoa Enterprises Inc. was revoked.

Heo's departure comes amid FBI investigations into human trafficking in American Samoa, and FBI liaison to the territory, William Denson, has subsequently interviewed Heo in Apia.

But Mr Ieremia says the Korean can return if another local company applies to sponsor him.