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Tourist wrongly detained in jail Tourist jailed 'for being black'
(about 7 hours 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 wrongly accused of being an illegal immigrant may have been singled out just for being black, an Equality Commission spokeswoman has said.
The Immigration Service wrongly detained the man in Maghaberry jail. Frank Kakopa has been paid £7,500 after the Immigration Service wrongly held him in prison for two days.
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. Mr Kakopa, 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. He had proof he lived in England but was still strip-searched and jailed.
He was strip-searched and held for two days. His work manager had also confirmed both his legal residency and employment position.
This had happened despite his manager in England confirming both his legal residency and employment position. Eileen Lavery from the Equality Commission said she had concerns over why Mr Kakopa was singled out and held in Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, as he had "an enormous amount of documentation".
'Difficult to believe' "Why pick on him? Other than I think because he is black," she said.
Mr Kakopa, a structural engineer, said the experience still haunted him. 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 Frank Kakopa 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.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."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."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."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.""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.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. In an out-of-court settlement, the Immigration Service admitted false imprisonment and apologised to Mr Kakopa and his family.
"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.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. The Home Office said in a statement that it did not comment on individual cases.