A Christchurch employer has been sentenced to four months’ home detention after providing false information to Immigration New Zealand stating an employee was their visiting relative.
New Zealand Immigration (NZI) said the employer, Ava Young, pleaded guilty to two charges of providing false or misleading information to Immigration New Zealand, and one charge of aiding and abetting the breach of visa conditions.
Young had recruited a Thai national from overseas, and facilitated her entry into the country on a visitor visa.
For the job and the visa, Young charged the individual NZ$7500 – a debt she owed to Young. Despite this, NZI said the individual never held a visa allowing her to work in New Zealand.
After the employee arrived in Auckland in March 2024, she was informed by Young she would be living and working there. Young then took photos of the individual to advertise her services from the premises which Young managed.
NZI said later the same day, the individual then received a message from Young which said a client was coming to see her.
“The message was an appointment for the individual to have sex with a client and included the time, cost and duration of the service,” NZI said.
The individual was charged a 35% fee on her earnings, along with rent and expenses. Young also kept a schedule of the debt, which NZI said she would “regularly send” to the individual.
At the direction of Young, the individual provided massage and sex services at various Auckland addresses until June 2024, when she stopped working for Young after clearing her debt.
An investigation was launched by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) after receiving a complaint which said a female Thai national was breaching her visa conditions and was being “forced to work in a massage parlour and provide sexual services to clients”.
Six search warrants were carried out across Auckland and Christchurch, resulting in Young’s arrest.
NZI general manager of immigration investigations and compliance, Steve Watson, said the case “represents a serious breach of trust and responsibility”.
“Their actions compromised the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration system.
“The individual arrived in New Zealand expecting legitimate work opportunities, but was instead misled and treated in a manner that was both unlawful and deeply unfair.”
The court determined the offending was serious, but applied sentencing discounts for an early guilty plea, previous good character, and also took account of the defendant’s personal circumstances.
It determined a non-custodial sentence with strict conditions would still hold Young accountable.
Young was then sentenced to four months’ home detention.
“The individual arrived in New Zealand expecting legitimate work opportunities, but was instead misled and treated in a manner that was both unlawful and deeply unfair,” Watson said.
“Immigration New Zealand remains committed to identifying, investigating, and holding to account those who take advantage of others for personal gain.”
