One of nine Indian students fighting against deportation is being asked at the very same time to help with a government investigation into the Auckland school he went to.
Pradeep Reddy Sudini, centre, faces deportation along with his fellow Indian students, despite being asked to assist with a Commerce Commission investigation. Photo: Supplied
The Commerce Commission says it has contacted several students about its investigation into the New Zealand Institute of Studies.
The commission is investigating fees and agent commissions at the Auckland-based tertiarty institute which caters to mainly foreign students.
Some students who studied there are among nine being deported in relation to fraudulent visas.
One, 23-year-old business student Pradeep Reddy Sudini, said he was annoyed the Commerce Commission had asked him for his help with the investigation when another arm of the government was trying to kick him out.
The commission said it had written letters to several students asking for their assistance and was not engaged with their immigration status.
Pradeep Reddy Sudini got into the school through what Immigration New Zealand has since identified as one of the most fraud-riddled web of education agents they have come across in India.
Late last evening Mr Sudini and his eight friends, who had just learned their appeals not to be deported had been rejected by Immigration New Zealand, had come up with a plan to seek sanctuary in a church.
They called on the Immigration Minister to intervene and cancel their deportation notices, saying they will have to be dragged to the airport.
Pradeep Reddy Sudini Photo: Supplied
It had been galling to receive an email from the Commerce Commission a fortnight ago asking for help with its investigation, Mr Sudini said.
He had not given any information to the investigators as he was unable to focus on anything but the deportation, but called into question one arm of government asking for help while another sought to kick him out.
"It's not fair, that's what I'm saying. That's what the tactics of the government [are] - they're not playing a fair game."
However, he would help the commission if he could, he said.
He was in shock after the deportation ruling - and could not even tell his parents back home about what was going on.
"I won't expose these things to my parents because ... if I say them, they'll feel very emotional.
"I'm feeling very disturbed because this is not the right thing to me."
Deportation would hinder his future, coming up whenever authorities anywhere asked about him if he tried to travel or do business overseas, he said.
"It's simple, my future will be blank, that's it, every opportunity is closed for me."
Mr Sudini had signed a statement to say he knew nothing about the bank documentation fraud exposed in his student visa application from 2015 - and that the blame lay with the two agents he dealt with, Sunrise Overseas Education Consultancy and Kiwi Overseas Services.
Sunrise Overseas Education Consultancy shut up shop last year after an Immigration New Zealand investigation.
Kiwi Overseas Services had, as of 10 months ago, two-thirds of its student visa applications tainted by fraud.
The New Zealand Institute of Studies has been asked for comment.
