Judge recommends Palestinian with false passport be deported

Jan 28 2008 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo

AN illegal immigrant who used a false passport to try to open a bank account is today behind bars.

Palestinian identity fraudster Abdul Rahman, 31, bought the passport in London before showing it to bank staff at HSBC on Queen Street, Cardiff.

Chris Lewis, prosecuting, said: “The police were called and while bank staff were waiting, they pretended to be processing the application.”

The city’s crown court heard the failed asylum seeker paid £350 for the Belgian document in the name of Taher Murat and needed the account to receive his wages.

Rahman, of Newport Road, Roath, Cardiff, admitted possessing a false identity documents with intent.

Karl Williams, mitigating, said Rahman wanted a legitimate job so he could send money back to relatives in the Gaza Strip.

He said Rahman has been held at Swansea prison since his arrest in December and was finding it difficult as the jail’s only Arabic speaker.

Mr Williams claimed Rahman could not obtain a passport from the Palestinian authorities because the Hamas Government, elected in 2006, was not recognised by the international community.

The barrister also argued Rahman should not be deported when his six-month sentence ends which, taking into account early release and time spent on remand, could be next month, because of political instability in the Middle East.

Mr Williams said: “He can’t be deported in the truest sense. He’s in limbo with no possibility of leaving the UK.”

But jailing him, Judge John Curran said: “Public confidence in the immigration system and validity of documents of identity requires that immediate custodial sentences should be passed on those who equip themselves with false documents.

“I also consider in the circumstances of this case that it’s to the detriment of the UK that somebody who has entered illegally and subsequently equips themselves with a false passport should be permitted to remain here. I recommend you for deportation.”

The judge said the final decision on whether Rahman is sent home rests with the Home Office.

Following the hearing, a Border and Immigration Agency spokesman said: “We have made it perfectly clear that our objective is that any foreign national prisoners should face deportation

“Last year, we exceeded the Prime Minister’s target for deportation, removing more than 4,200 foreign criminals from the UK – almost 80 per cent more than in 2006.”

ben.glaze@mediawales.co.uk