UPDATE:
GEELONG Bandido Daniel Roach has described as “bullshit” a visa ban blocking his return to Australia after the Federal Government left him stranded in Thailand.
Roach is holed up in Thailand after Immigration Minister Peter Dutton intervened personally to reject a return resident visa to Australia on character grounds.
The minister cited “alleged” but unspecified criminal activities including drugs offences for Roach’s visa rejection.
Roach posted to Facebook this morning after the story of his enforced exile broke nationwide.
“I’ve just woken up with hundreds of messages to which it will take me a week to reply,” he said.
“I appreciate everyone’s support but it’s all media propaganda.
“Please respect what my family is going through especially Kate and the kids because if you know me you know this is just bullshit.”
An Immigration Department spokesperson told the Independent Roach’s application for a new Australian visa was refused because he was “alleged to have had involvement in a range of criminal activities, including drug offences through his alleged association with an outlaw motorcycle gang in Victoria”.
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EARLIER:
GEELONG Bandidos enforcer Daniel Roach is holed up in Thailand after the Federal Government refused him a return visa to Australia on character grounds.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton personally intervened to block Mr Roach’s application to renew his residency visa, citing “alleged” but unspecified criminal activities including drugs offences.
“The Government can confirm that an application for a new Australian visa has been refused for a person with an alleged association with an outlaw motorcycle gang,” an immigration department spokesperson told the Independent.
“The male from Victoria was outside Australia when the minister personally intervened to refuse a return visa on character grounds.
“The man first migrated to Australia in 1991. The man is alleged to have had involvement in a range of criminal activities, including drug offences through his alleged association with an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang in Victoria.”
Roach, who has family and business in Geelong, has been stranded in Thailand for several weeks.
He posted to Facebook this morning after the story broke nationwide.
“I’ve just woken up with hundreds of messages to which it will take me a week to reply,” he said.
“I appreciate everyone’s support but it’s all media propaganda.
“Please respect what my family is going through especially Kate and the kids because if you know me you know this is just bullshit.”