A former immigration adviser has been sentenced to ten months' home detention for setting up a scheme where migrants were misled about fabricated jobs.
Former licensed immigration adviser Tzu Tong Ma (also known as Jane Ma and Zi Tong Ma) set up a scheme involving fabricated roles to mislead potential migrants into believing work was waiting for them in New Zealand.
It's not the first time Ma has faced prosecution from authorities, having previously been ordered to repay nearly $60,000 for breaches of her obligations by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment. Her latest prosecution came from Immigration New Zealand.
The scheme she was sentenced for yesterday took place in February 2023, when she submitted three Accredited Employer Work Visa applications on behalf of three Chinese nationals.
The applications relied on false employment information and fraudulent agreements claiming the migrants had construction jobs awaiting them.
The three migrants had paid "substantial sums", believing they were coming to real jobs.
When they arrived, however, they found no employment existed.
Steve Watson, general manager of immigration compliance and investigations at INZ, called Ma's scheme "deliberate" and said it undermined the integrity of New Zealand's immigration system.
“This case reflects the real harm caused when individuals abuse their professional position and exploit migrants seeking opportunities in New Zealand,” Watson said.
“We will not tolerate this kind of offending. Anyone who seeks to profit from vulnerable people or undermine the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration system will be held to account.
“If you break the law, misuse your position, or take advantage of migrants for financial gain - including through false job offers - there will be consequences.”
Ma had previously been fined tens of thousands of dollars over a string of other breaches.
In April 2024, her license was suspended and subsequently cancelled, and she was ordered to repay two complainants a total of $58,500 in compensation, along with a $10,000 penalty.
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