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Chinese asylum seeker remanded till Monday

03 Oct 2011 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The counsel, appearing for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a case where a Chinese who sought asylum in Sri Lanka had been remanded for allegedly overstaying his visa, today informed court that the suspect had been registered with the UNHCR, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Department of Immigration and Emigrations.

He said the UNHCR had finalised a working agreement with regard to the issuance of certificates to asylum seekers.

Counsel K. Poobalasingham and Shelrine Ahilan said the Chinese, Pan Jun could stay in the country even without a valid visa since he was registered with the UNHCR and submitted a letter issued by it valid till December 31.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne said the suspect could not be released on bail since the matter had been referred to the Attorney General for her advice over the claim for refugee status and was violating section 45 (3) of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act.

The suspect was further remanded till next Monday, and the Magistrate sent a reminder to the AG to expedite her advice on the case.

The Chinese, Pan Jun was arrested by the Kompanna Veediya police when he was found near the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo 2.

When produced in the Fort Magistrate’s Court, the suspect said he was an asylum seeker who was registered with the UNHCR and produced a UNHCR certificate stating that, “Pan Jun is registered as an asylum seeker whose claim for refugee status is being examined by the office of the UNHCR. As an asylum seeker he is a person of concern to the office of the UNHCR in particular, protected from forcible return to a country where he claims to face threats to his life or freedom, pending a final decision on his refugee status.” (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

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Chinese asylum seeker remanded till Monday

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