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Tourist wrongly detained in jail | Tourist wrongly detained in jail |
(40 minutes later) | |
A man accused of being an illegal immigrant while on holiday in Northern Ireland has been paid £7,500 after he was wrongly put in prison. | A man accused of being an illegal immigrant while on holiday in Northern Ireland has been paid £7,500 after he was wrongly put in prison. |
The Immigration Service wrongly detained the man in Maghaberry jail. | The Immigration Service wrongly detained the man in Maghaberry jail. |
Frank Kakopa who is originally from Zimbabwe, was on a short break with his wife and young children in 2005, when he was stopped at Belfast City Airport. | Frank Kakopa who is originally from Zimbabwe, was on a short break with his wife and young children in 2005, when he was stopped at Belfast City Airport. |
Despite showing documentation that he lived and worked in England, he was taken to prison. | Despite showing documentation that he lived and worked in England, he was taken to prison. |
He was strip-searched and held for two days. | |
This had happened despite his manager in England confirming both his legal residency and employment position. | |
'Difficult to believe' | |
Mr Kakopa, a structural engineer, said the experience still haunted him. | |
His family were left at the airport and Mr Kakopa said he had no idea what had happened to them. | |
"They wouldn't allow me to make phone calls - I was actually detached from the world," he said. | |
"I did not know where my kids were taken to. | |
"It is still difficult to believe that what was supposed to be a relaxing break for my family turned out to be our worst nightmare. | |
"I was locked up with convicted criminals, having committed no crime, while my wife and young children were left abandoned at the airport of a strange country worrying about where I was and how I was being treated." | |
The Equality Commission took on the case alleging false imprisonment and discrimination. | |
Eileen Lavery from the Equality Commission said she had concerns over why Mr Kakopa was singled out. | |
"He had an enormous amount of documentation," she said. | |
"Why pick on him? Other than I think because he is black." | |
In an out of court settlement the Immigration Service admitted false imprisonment and apologised to Mr Kakopa and his family. | |
They also agreed to discuss their practices with the Equality Commission. | |
The Home Office declined an interview. They said they did not comment on individual cases. |