DILI, 10 September 2020 (TATOLI)– A New Zealand Citizen named John Beresford Calder who was abandoned and swam to the island of Atauro has now been returned to the Embassy of New Zealand in Dili, by the Department of Interior and Migration Service Timor-, on September 10, 2020.
The hand over’ ceremony was officiated by the Director-General of Timor-Leste Migration Service, Sup. Police, Agostinho Gomes, through the submission of his passport and other documents relating to the New Zealand Citizen, these were given to the First Secretary of New Zealand at the Embassy in Dili, Cooper Shcumann and accompanied by the head of Migration Service at the Caicoli hall Dili.
Mr. Gomes revealed the New Zealand Citizen had entered Timor-Leste through Atauro on August 13, 2020.
He considers Mr Calder travel as a unique situation, as his original destination was supposed to be Alor but due to a leaking boat which stunk of diesel and oil, he abandoned ship and swam two hours towards Atauro.
After arriving on Atauro Island, the Community there informed the police and the COVID-19 team, John was brought to a quarantine facility in Farol Dili for 14 days.
After completing his 14 days of mandatory quarantine in Timor-Leste, John was investigated by the Timor-Leste Migration Service, and it was concluded that they have not found him guilty of any crime; therefore the Migration decided to voluntary release John.
“Today, we returned a New Zealand Citizen, John Beresford Calder, to the New Zealand Embassy in Dili, to assist him in returning to his country of origin,” Migration Director Agostinho Gomes said.
The first secretary of the New Zealand Embassy in Dili, Cooper Shcumann, thanked the Government of Timor-Leste for providing adequate assistance to the New Zealand citizens who had encountered a difficult situation.
Journalist : Nelson de Sousa
Editor : Francisco Simões/Nick Kettle
Translation:Nelia Borges
