The Immigration Minister has won a battle to deport a fraudster who stole $350,000 of ratepayer money from Auckland Council.
Photo: RNZ / Tom Furley
Hendrik Pieter Jooste, who was employed as a leasing officer, misappropriated bonds and rental payments and was jailed for three years.
The 41-year-old South African successfully fought deportation in 2012.
However, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse won a landmark appeal in the High Court, which sent the case back to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal to be reconsidered.
Now, in a new decision, the tribunal has found Mr Jooste can be deported.
It said that would not be unduly harsh, given the serious nature of his offending.
Mr Jooste argued he should not be separated from his two children, who live with his ex-wife.
