The refugee status of a woman from Sri Lanka has been cancelled after it was found
that she lied when she arrived in New Zealand nine years ago. The
woman claimed to have been persecuted as a spy and a supporter of the Tamil
Tiger rebels, despite living in Switzerlandwhen the alleged events happened.
After she was granted New
Zealand citizenship in 2006, Swiss authorities alerted New Zealand counterparts that she had lived in Switzerland for
five years and was turned down for asylum twice.
She was found guilty of immigration fraud and jailed for 13
months in 2008.
The Refugee Status Appeals Authority has rejected her
argument that the persecution happened before she fled to Switzerland.
Her New
Zealand citizenship is now being reviewed.
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