7 Grace Road Group executives declared prohibited immigrants in Fiji after decisions by the South Korean Government and a request by Interpol

As the debate continues on the 7 Grace Road executives in Fiji declared prohibited immigrants by the Fijian Government, it has been made clear through government statements released that the government acted after the decisions by the South Korean Government and the request by Interpol. Grace Road senior director Daniel Jung Yong Kim remains in immigration custody as he is a prohibited immigrant.

His passport was nullified by the South Korean Government.

7 people from Grace Road in Fiji were wanted by the Korean Government and this included Daniel Kim, Acting Grace Road President Sung Jin Lee, Nam Suk Choi, Byeong Joon Lee, Jin Sook Yoon, Beomseop Shin and Chul Na.

Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua has already confirmed the Government of Korea communicated through diplomatic channels on 21st September 2018 that they had nullified the passports of the 7 individuals connected with the Grace Road Cult.

He says these individuals’ passports were nullified by the Korean Government in relation to charges laid by the South Korean Government who had issued a warrant for their arrest.

The Immigration Minister says in July 2018, Red Notices were published by Interpol referring to these individuals as *Fugitives wanted for Prosecution."

He says all of these were ignored by the former government.

Tikoduadua says using his discretion as Minister under Section 13(2)(g) of the Immigration Act, these individuals were declared Prohibited Immigrants making their presence in Fiji unlawful.

Meanwhile in a statement released by Grace Road Group, it says the Group’s 400 members find the recent events surrounding their group as unquestionably a ‘religious oppression’.

They say the Minister of Immigration has publicly condemned their group as a “cult” several times in the media.

The group claims it is evident that that the President, Daniel Kim has been detained for speaking against the religious belief of the Minister.

They also ask if a Red Notice is the reason for deportation, why this has suddenly become an issue several months after the announcement of an investigation of the group.

The group says if the Red Notice is an issue, why was their key executive member refused entry into Fiji without a proper explanation when she has no criminal record.

They say their key executive member who was refused entry into Fiji had no choice but to stay in Australia, but the Australian Immigration, notified by the Fijian Immigration, insulted her as a “cult” and refused her entry.