Sroubek wife ‘victim not informant’
Family of smuggler’s estranged partner say Peters’ remark put target on her back
The estranged wife of Czech drug-smuggler Karel Sroubek says the Deputy PM calling her a National Party informant has increased fears for her safety, says National justice spokesman Mark Mitchell.
National has demanded Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway quit over his handling of the Sroubek case, after Sroubek was initially given New Zealand residency despite being in prison for smuggling MDMA.
Lees-Galloway, who said he is staying put to fix the system, last week issued a new deportation liability notice to Sroubek following an Immigration NZ review of the case.
Mitchell yesterday criticised Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters for calling Sroubek’s estranged wife a “National Party informant” while speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during Question Time last week.
“She’s not. She is a victim who is the subject of a police safety plan,” Mitchell said.
“But the Deputy Prime Minister attacked her anyway. Now her family has even greater fears for her safety, saying Mr Peters has ‘placed a [target] on the back . . . of a vulnerable young woman already dealing with enough challenges under the circumstances’.”
Peters yesterday again spoke on behalf of Ardern during Question Time, and said National had not denied Sroubek’s wife was an informant.
“That question was put to Parliament last week, and there was no answer from the National Party.”
When told that Sroubek’s estranged wife had first contacted a former Labour Party Minister for help, but was told to contact the Opposition because the Government wasn’t going to change the decision, Peters said: “So she is the informant, then.”
Lees-Galloway said the woman had declined to participate in the Immigration NZ review.
But Mitchell said that she had told Immigration NZ officials that “she was happy to help but would want her lawyer and support person present, and was frightened of the target on her back becoming bigger”.
Mitchell also claimed that Immigration NZ arrived at her house unannounced on November 5 at an address “known only to police as part of a police safety plan”.
Immigration NZ general manager Nicola Hogg said officials visited Sroubek’s wife with police after a “thorough risk assessment”, which was standard practice.
She said Sroubek’s estranged wife declined to participate in a subsequent meeting at which her lawyer was present.
“At this meeting, Immigration NZ also apologised for any distress caused by the initial visit and explained the reasons for the approach.”
Mitchell, who said he was in touch with people close to Sroubek’s estranged wife, said she was “under duress” when she supported Sroubek’s case at the start of the process.
“She doesn’t want him to stay and has changed both her phone number and address, because of what she says are threats to her safety.
“The family of Mr Sroubek’s exwife have . . . had enough. They say Mr Peters has caused immense stress ‘and a feeling of utter hopelessness’.”