Cut Passport And Cancelled Visas

[myauq]

hi all,

just got a couple of questions about a very nasty character we had the misfortune to meet recently in oz. he's an indian national, and has been working here for the past couple of years.

someone we know said that he showed her his passport. she said that the corners had been cut, and the australian tourist visas had expired and had a red 'cancelled' stamped over them. it seems pretty obvious that he's overstaying his visa, or working here illegally.

but what i want to know is where did the passport get cut and have the pages stamped? surely not in australia, as that would lead to immediate detention and deportation, right?

would i be right in thinking that, if this girl's recollection is right, then after his visa/passport expired in australia he may have requested a new one either from india or the indian embassy in canberra, and they would have returned it in that state. as far as i know passports usually belong to the issuing government, so no-one in australia could have done that. not sure if that's right though.

or perhaps even it's not his passport - something for the cops, afp or immigration to have a look into i think.

can anyone clarify the passport cutting/stamping thingy?

cheers

[metisdead]

Not Thailand related.