Environmental consultant Dr Padma Lal, the wife of former Fiji constitutional commissioner Dr Brij Lal, was deported from Fiji Tuesday morning after she was declared a "prohibited immigrant".
Director of Immigration Major Nemani Vuniwaqa confirmed Dr Lal was stopped at Nadi International Airport.
"She has been declared a Prohibited Immigrant, her name was included in the Watchlist, stopping her from entering the country. She had to be flown back to where she came from on the next flight," Mr Vuniwaqa said.
"Ms Lal (has) an Australian passport and has been declared a Prohibited Immigrant, thus she was denied entry."
He also confirmed that Dr Lal's mobile phone and laptop were confiscated at the airport when she was taken into custody.
"The officers at the border did lock the items away and never used it," Mr Vuniwaqa said.
"The laptop was given back to her when she left," he said.
"The items were taken in for safekeeping."
Dr Brij Lal confirmed his wife arrived at Sydney Airport on Tuesday. He said his wife had a visa to work for the International Union for Conservation of Nature, whose Pacific office was based in Suva.
IUCN is the only environmental organisation with a seat at the UN General Assembly.
Dr Padma Lal previously worked for the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat as climate change advisor.
- Fiji Times
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