A 52-year-old will be deported to Samoa from New Zealand after he completes his 10-year-jail term for physically and sexually abusing his stepson.

A recent Immigration Tribunal decision denied the man’s appeal against deportation.

Stuff.com reported that the man came to New Zealand from Samoa in 2011. He  argued it was in the best interest of his wife and three children that he stay – despite being convicted of abusing his stepson while the child was in his care.

One his arguments was that that he was falsely convicted, claiming that his in-laws conspired against him.

The tribunal found there were no exceptional humanitarian circumstances in the man’s deportation. His appeal to stay was denied.

It is reported that while living in Samoa in 2008, the man met a woman referred to as AA in the decision.

The pair started a relationship and, by 2011, the appellant moved to New Zealand to live with AA and her son. Because AA worked full-time, the man looked after his stepson at home.

Alarm bells sounded in 2013 when the man slapped his stepson, causing the child’s tooth to fall out. Oranga Tamariki became involved, and the man went to counseling.

The man and AA continued their relationship and later had 3 children of their own.

In 2017, the stepson – with the support of his mother’s family – spoke up about other violence he had suffered while living with the appellant.

This was both physical and sexual abuse.

The appellant was charged with three sexual offences and five offences of assault, all against his stepson, who was under 12 years old at the time.

In 2020, he was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

The man claimed he was wrongfully convicted, stating he was “standing up for the truth” and was “not that kind of person”.

From prison, he regularly calls his wife and three children. His wife, AA, believes he is innocent, and has been isolated from her extended family, who are looking after her son.

Counsel argued that the man demonstrated a “complete denial of responsibility”.

The tribunal found that while it would be difficult for the family if the man were deported, that didn’t amount to exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature.

“He will have a place to live and will have the prospect of supporting himself and his family.

“Deportation will not separate him from his wife, because she has indicated that she would return with him,” the Tribunal said.

The appellant is set to be deported when his prison sentence is completed.