The case of Hadush Kebatu has plagued the Labour government for months. In summer, it emerged the Ethiopian asylum seeker was facing charges of sexual assaulting a 14-year-old girl. This sparked the Epping protests outside Essex’s Bell Hotel which amplified nationwide outrage about asylum seeker hotels. Kebatu was found guilty – but last week it transpired the sex offender had been accidentally freed from prison. He was found some days later and has now been deported £500 richer. Alright for some!
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson explained that Kebatu was ‘forcibly deported’ to Ethiopia after being put on a flight on Tuesday evening. But it transpires that the asylum seeker didn’t go without a fight – prompting the removal team to pay him hundreds of pounds to leave the country quickly. While ‘forcible’ returns do not tend to involve payments, Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson claimed that the money was handed over to avoid a slower and pricier process.
Kebatu’s isn’t a particularly special case, either. As reported by ITV in September, convicted foreign criminals were paid up to £2,000 to leave the country. The money is put on pre-loaded cards, which they can use in their home countries to withdraw cash. It may be a quick and easy method to returning foreign criminals, but Mr S doubts UK taxpayers will be all that thrilled about the compromise…
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