Police Clearance did not highlight conviction: RSE Agent

Jan 3, 2022 | News | 0

The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme Agent who recruited Byron Moli, the RSE worker who was recently deported from New Zealand, said she did not know he had a criminal record since his Police Clearance did not state it.

RSE Agent Merinda Manmelin made this comment in the aftermaths of Labour Commissioner Murielle Meltenoven’s exclusive interview with Daily Post, where she said that no convicted sexual offenders will be able to join the RSE and Seasonal Workers Program.

The worker in question is Moli. According to his public court document available on PACLII, he was sentenced to two years on the 20th of September 2016 for the following offences:

“One count of Sexual Intercourse without consent, contrary to section 90 & 91 of the Penal Code [CAP 135] (Count 1), three counts of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse contrary to section 97(1) of the Penal Code [CAP 135](Count 2, Count 4, Count 6), one count of Acts of Indecency with a Young Person contrary to section 97(A) of the Penal Code [CAP 135](Count 3) and one count of Acts of Indecency without consent contrary to section 98 of the Penal Code [CAP 135](Count 5).”

The incidents occurred in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

It started in January 2013, when the victim was 11 years old.

After several similar incidents, the defendant began having sexual intercourse with the victim almost every day until December 2013 when she was 12 years old at that time.

According to Mr. Moli’s mother, he was released from quarantine on Tuesday.

Attempts to contact Moli for a comment have been unsuccessful.

The RSE agent said that she didn’t know about his past convictions and this is an oversight by the Vanuatu Police.

“Sorry, I didn’t know that he committed that crime, when he brought his Police Clearance form it didn’t state anything, I didn’t know anything, it’s a shock for me,” she said.

The RSE worker’s name was provided to the Police to explain why they did not provide this information in his Police Clearance and the Police has yet to respond.

According to section 157 of the NZ Immigration Act of 2009, the NZ government has the right to deport temporary class visa holders in breach of the reasons listed in the Act and the temporary class visa holders are not able to appeal this decision.

A search through PACLII over the past six years on rape and incest in Vanuatu showed a result of 246 convictions and appeals, 205 for sexual intercourse without consent and 41 for incest.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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