THE Immigration Department was yesterday accused of using ''Gestapo tactics'' against a domestic helper who was taken into custody by officers after she was reportedly denied legal advice and telephone calls.
Nena (not her real name) was held by immigration officers for five days until she appeared in Western Court charged with making a false representation to an immigration officer.
However, she had not been allowed to discuss the case with anybody, according to United Migrant Workers and her sister.
A lawyer added his voice to a call for reforms, saying the department and law courts were in ''flagrant breach'' of the Bill of Rights.
According to the lawyer, who specialises in immigration and domestic helper cases, migrant workers are regularly being denied access to legal representation.
While refusing to comment on individual cases, an Immigration Department spokesman said the rights of people held in custody were always observed, including access to legal representation and the right to make telephone calls.
