SIS bungling "inhumane"

"The SIS have lost and found tapes, kept from Mr Zaoui the accusations against him, and provided biased and misleading documents to the Refugee Status Appeals Authority," said Green MP Keith

"It is turning into a debacle for the SIS," said Mr Locke, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson.

"It would be inhumane to keep Mr Zaoui in prison for several more months while the Inspector General's review bumbles along, possibly with other crucial documents being withheld.

"Mr Zaoui should not have to pay in jail time for the incompetence of the SIS. He has been unjustly locked up for over a year now and should be set free immediately.

"It shouldn't take a ticking-off from the Prime Minister, saying the videotape mixup was a 'little odd' for the SIS to suddenly discover another tape.

"What else is 'lost' or 'misplaced' or 'forgotten'?

"This latest embarrassing incident validates the Green view that we can't trust the SIS, operating so secretly that even Zaoui's lawyers are in the dark, to properly apply the Security Risk procedure.

"Mr Zaoui's future, and the danger he would face if returned to Algeria, should not be in the hands of an agency that is so sadly lacking in credibility.

"We must have a properly inquiry into the mishandling of this case, not only by the SIS, but also the other agencies that have got it wrong: the police, Immigration, Customs and the Corrections Department.

"This first application of the Security Risk Procedure to asylum seekers has been shown to be wanting. We should move urgently to review the law that established it.

"In the meantime, stop the mental torture of Mr Zaoui. Release him to live happily with his family in New Zealand, as the genuine refugee the Refugee Status Appeals Authority says he is," said Mr Locke.

ENDS

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