A Nigerian man who has been living in New Zealand under a false identity since 2003 has been sent to prison for more than two years for passport fraud.
Jeffrey Ugochukwu Orji, 39, was found guilty at the Pukekohe District Court today (Wed) of eight offences involving the use of a false passport and one charge of possessing a false passport.
He has been sentenced to two years and three months' imprisonment.
Orji's offending was revealed in 2009 when forensic examination of the passport eventually connected it to a batch of blank stolen Nigerian passports, Immigration New Zealand Intelligence, Risk and Integrity general manager Steve Stuart said.
"While international security standards for passports have improved over the years, the ability of criminals to obtain legitimate passports fraudulently, or produce very high quality fakes, is a real challenge for immigration and border agencies internationally," he said.
Orji could face deportation when he is released from prison, Mr Stuart said.
(Source NZ Herald)
