An Indian computer engineer, known only as Mr K in court, is seeking to return to New Zealand after being involved in a domestic dispute in 2019. This incident led to his imprisonment for 427 days and eventual departure from the country, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Mr K's conflict began when he assaulted his wife during an argument over cooking rice. Although he admitted to the assault, he was later acquitted of more serious sexual offenses against her. These accusations complicated his plans to apply for permanent residency in New Zealand.
Mr K and his family had moved to New Zealand in 2016, where he worked as a computer engineer under an essential skills work visa. However, the assault conviction jeopardized his immigration status.
After a lengthy legal battle, Mr K was acquitted of all charges, but his work visa had expired. Despite his acquittal, he was unable to contact his daughter, whom he had not seen since his imprisonment.
In a surprising development, the High Court at Wellington granted Mr K a discharge without conviction for the assault, stating that the consequences of a conviction would be disproportionate to the offense. This discharge means Mr K can now apply for visas without disclosing his past offenses and may have a chance to return to New Zealand.
Mr K's journey to reunite with his daughter and rebuild his life in New Zealand now seems more hopeful, despite the challenges he has faced.
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