Overstayer to be deported

Thai national Payao Chaimat who handed himself into police on Friday after absconding from police and immigration officials has appeared in court.

Chaimat, 26, who has been living in New Zealand illegally, ran off when police and Immigration Service staff approached him and two other Thai men about 7pm last Tuesday.

He had managed to give police the slip despite an extensive search in Te Puke the next day but he handed himself in on Friday.

In Tauranga District Court yesterday, Crown prosecutor Hayley Derrick told Judge Patrick Treston that Chaimat had been classified as an overstayer since August 2008 and a warrant of commitment was sought for seven days. However, Ms Derrick said Chaimat would likely be flown out of the country on Thursday if a flight could be arranged.

Duty solicitor David Bates told the judge Chaimat accepted he would be deported.

Chaimat was further remanded in custody pending his removal from the country.