Sought man gets to stay

Alan Selkon is wanted for fraud in South Africa. Photo / Doug Sherring

A man wanted on fraud charges in his South African homeland has won the right to stay in New Zealand for now.

Alan Andrew Selkon, 39, has successfully reversed a removal order issued by Immigration New Zealand because of the overseas police charges and arrest warrant.

Business people who have dealt with Selkon in New Zealand said he presented himself as a multi-millionaire who owned a private airline, and told them he was on first-name terms with Richard Branson and Brad Pitt.

He faced two fraud charges in the North Shore District Court earlier this year, which police said were withdrawn to allow him to be deported.

After the police asked the judge to withdraw the charges, the defence successfully sought to have the charges dismissed - meaning police cannot lay them again.

And immigration officials have now agreed to reconsider Selkon's case because of concerns about the process followed, allowing him to stay for the duration.

That's been labelled "a disgrace" by the Auckland businessman who laid one of the complaints. Barry Sutton only agreed to the charge being dropped so Selkon could be sent home.

Selkon refused to answer Herald on Sunday questions, saying "not interested, thank you," before hanging up. Further questions submitted by email were not answered.

Orewa police sergeant Greg Foster said the two charges laid earlier this year, including one related to an immigration matter, were withdrawn by police to "assist Immigration with their process."

"This was the sole reason for withdrawing the charges," he said.

Foster said Sutton and Immigration NZ was consulted on the decision. Had the charges not been dropped, Selkon would have had the right to stay and defend himself.

Sutton said he was furious that the South African remained in New Zealand.

"Police had told me that the Immigration department asked us to withdraw the charges so they could deal with him straight away.

"I just see the whole thing as a disgrace, quite frankly."

Sutton said that he paid Selkon to write a business proposal to be presented to South African golfer Gary Player, who was interested in buying into Sutton's vineyard.

Sutton said he was led to believe Selkon knew Player well, and was shown photographs of them together.

Selkon has been reported as saying that any money was solely for expenses such as flights to inspect the property.

While he had done business with Player he claimed he had never purported to be close to the golfer. His lawyer Quentin Duff said the removal order was challenged on the grounds that Immigration NZ had not followed correct procedure.

The matter was resolved without going to court, and he expected Selkon to be issued a six-month visitor's permit shortly.

"He would definitely like to stay and get on with life," Duff said.

He said the fraud charges were dismissed in the North Shore District Court in June because police weren't able to advance the case.

Duff said he had never seen any documentation regarding an outstanding South African arrest warrant.

The South African charges were laid in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Johannesburg.

Investigators alleged that in 2006 he sold a small plane that he did not own, benefiting to the tune of 550,000 rand ($105,000).

In a written statement, Immigration NZ head Andrew Annakin said the department agreed to reconsider Selkon's case because of "concerns raised about the process followed in deciding an application for a work permit."

In the interim Selkon can lawfully remain in New Zealand. "This process will provide time for his longer term immigration status to be decided," Annakin said.