Three Chinese nationals were anxious to return to England after they were found in breach of the Aliens Act 1935, Limerick District Court was told yesterday.
The court was also told a stolen Belgian passport was bought for £300 by one of the men, who were arrested in Limerick. Lee Tin Xing (26), Chan Kwok Wah (31), and Ko Kit (33), of China, were charged with failing on demand to produce a valid passport or national document of identity in Limerick city on September 3rd; entering the State without an Irish entry visa; and failing to register under the Aliens Act 1935. The defendants, through an interpreter, pleaded guilty. Det Garda Martin Nally, immigration officer, Henry Street Garda Station, said he went with Insp John O'Reilly and other gar dai on September 3rd to Shamrock Chinese Takeaway restaurant on Ennis Road with a warrant to search the premises. He found the three defendants in the kitchen.
Lee Tin Xing said he was a European citizen and had a European passport. He produced a Belgian passport with his name and date of birth. Det Garda Nally soon discovered it was one of 64 blank and unissued Belgian EU passport documents which were stolen on June 23rd. The defendant said he had bought it for £300. He asked to return to Britain from where he had come.
The court was told if the accused man was not accepted into Britain, he would not be allowed to stay in Ireland. A decision on whether he would be deported will not be made until after his application to the British authorities is considered.
Det Garda Nally told Judge Michael Reilly a fax from the British Immigration Service said it was interested in Chan Kook Wah and would accept him in Britain. Judge Reilly remanded Lee Tin Xing and Ko Kit in custody until September 18th to enable their applications to be processed.
Chan Kook Wah was remanded in custody so a flight to London could be arranged today.