Iranian Loghman Sawari fled Manus Island but was returned to PNG, accused of giving false information on a passport application
Friday 17 February 2017 04.35 GMT
The Iranian refugee Loghman Sawari, who was deported from Fiji after he tried to claim asylum there, has been granted bail by a magistrate in Papua New Guinea .
Sawari, now 21, was a 17-year-old child when he was erroneously sent by the Australian government to the adult men-only Manus Island detention centre. He fled to Fiji on false documents, claiming he faced persecution in PNG.
But in Suva, as he drove with a human rights lawyer to claim asylum from Fiji’s immigration authorities, he was forcibly intercepted by Fiji police and put on a plane back to Port Moresby .
Returned to PNG, Sawari was held in police cells for several days incommunicado, before being charged with giving false information on a PNG passport application.
Earlier this week he was granted bail, under strict conditions, by magistrate Mark Kalandi. Sawari must live with a Catholic priest in Port Moresby and report to police each week. Police opposed his bail, arguing he was a flight risk.
Sawari fled Iran after family members were targeted and executed by the theocratic government there. He has been recognised as a refugee, that is, he has a well-founded fear of persecution in his homeland and he is legally owed protection. He cannot be returned to Iran.
An attempt to settle him in PNG’s second city, Lae, failed . He was beaten, left homeless and slept on the streets. He has also reported been assaulted by guards in immigration detention, including in one alleged attack that left him in hospital .
Sawari will face court again on 20 February.
