Child 'might die if father deported’

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 4

Child 'might die if father deported’

i PA Auckland The child of a Western Samoan man ordered to be be deported would probably die if it did not receive constant medical attention, said counsel in the Magistrate's Court at Auckland. Mr D. Russell was making submissions for Afasene Lesa, who admitted being an overstayer since September 14, 1977. Mr D . I. N. Mac Lean, S.M.. convicted Lesa, set bail at $4OO and made an order for deportation under section 20 of the Immigration Act. Counsel said an appli--cation had already been made to the Minister of Immigration (Mr Gill) for Lesa

Ito stay, on humanitarian grounds. Lesa was the father ’ >f five children and his > Western Samoan wife was I expecting another. One of the children suffered from a heart complaint ’ and would probably die if it ; did not receive constant . medical attention. Mrs Lesa's pregnancy presented difficulties in terms of her I flying back to Samoa: some > airlines were not happy j about Carrying women in , some stages erf pregnancy, I said counsel. Three weeks ago, Lesa had . goi a job after being out of I work and in some financial r difficulties. 1 The Court heard that Lesa had arrived in New Zealand ”in July, 1974, on a three- . month permit. He signed the . overstayers’ register in 1976