An immigration officer who tried to persuade Vietnamese boat people to abandon their human rights case was criticised by a judge yesterday for his 'highly dangerous' conduct.
Mr Justice Raymond Sears said the actions of the officer, who told one of the asylum-seekers not to trust his lawyers, could even amount to contempt of court.
'He should not have spoken to them. It is highly dangerous if people do that sort of thing. He should not have talked to them at all. It is quite wrong,' the judge said.
Peter Graham, for three boat people, complained to the judge about the officer's behaviour.
Tong Cong Sau said in a statement read out by Mr Graham that he was 'very surprised' to be visited in prison by the officer and an interpreter less than two weeks before his case was due to be heard.
'They told me that I would be sent back to Vietnam speedily after the hearing. They also said we should not trust our lawyers and that the longer we stayed here the longer our grief and suffering would be.' Mr Tong said he responded by saying he would receive 'more pain and grief' if he returned to Vietnam, where he claims he was persecuted.
The conduct of the officer, who was not named, was described by Mr Graham as 'extraordinary and improper'.