Immigrant concealed identity to get NZ citizenship

As reported by the NZ Herald, a wealthy man from China who was given New Zealand citizenship had concealed his second identity from Kiwi authorities when filling out the application.

William Yan (AKA “Yong Ming Yan” and “Yang Liu”) has pleaded not guilty at Auckland’s High Court, where he was facing four charges of untruthful declarations on official immigration papers, which he filled out in 2001 and 2002, as well as for using misleading written statements to obtain citizenship.

Yan, who is a millionaire, was given New Zealand citizenship back in August 2008, using the title Yang Liu. However, just a few days later, he switched his name to William Yan.
The focal point of the court case will be on how much knowledge the defendant knew about his own residency and immigration documents – rather than on the circumstances surrounding his citizenship.

Crown prosecutor David Johnstone has announced that Yan utilised a range of methods to conceal a second identity from New Zealand immigration authorities. The prosecutor said Yan was married, also having a second name (Yong Ming Yan) but did not reveal these facts upon applying for residency.

Mr Johnstone stated that Yan was travelling using two separate identities. He said that Yan's 2005 application for Kiwi citizenship did not disclose his other identity. His application form asked Yan if he had ever been investigated by authorities or faced legal action. Yan reportedly answered "no", even though he had previously been investigated by Immigration authorities in Australia.