A man believed to be the first Australian granted asylum in a foreign country is suing that country's immigration department for negligence.
Ex-bikie Steven Utah sought asylum in Canada after fleeing Australia in 2006. It's claimed he feared for his safety after surviving attempts on his life by the Bandidos bikie gang he had connections to, the Guardian reports.
The man acted as a police informant in Australia and infiltrated the Bandidos motorcycle gang, later fleeing to Canada where he sought asylum.
But the asylum process was slow, Mr Utah claims, telling the National Post the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) "not only could not believe that a white Australian could be a refugee, they wouldn't entertain it".
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He said it took almost a decade for the agency to decide on his asylum claim, granting it last year after it appeared Australian authorities had abandoned him once his cover was blown, the Guardian reports.
Mr Utah has now launched a CA$2.55 million (NZ$2.95 million) lawsuit, filed in Canada's federal court in June, over claims the agency left him in limbo for years.
Canadian authorities eventually recognised that Mr Utah would face "a serious risk to his life" if he was sent back to Australia. But the ex-bikie has accused the government of "pure, sheer incompetence" for the lengthy asylum process.
The man's lawyer in Canada, William Klym, told the National Post the years-long asylum process was "negligent".
Mr Utah wasn't able to work while he waited for asylum to be granted, nor was he able to open a bank account, obtain a driver's licence or get access to healthcare, court documents said. As a result, he claims he suffered from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
But the Canadian government says Mr Utah's criminal history before he became a police informant needed to be reviewed before he could be granted asylum.
He was allegedly involved in an Australian murder case and faced fraud charges, which were later withdrawn.
The statement of defence said the "complexity" of Mr Utah's history was the reason his asylum case was so drawn out.
It took until August 2009 to confirm no charges would be laid against Mr Utah in connection with the murder of a 54-year-old man killed by Bandidos members.
Newshub.
