Act MP David Garrett today admitted in Parliament that 26 years ago he obtained a false passport using the birth certificate of a dead child.He said he had been later arrested and discharged without conviction.In a statement to the House, Mr Garrett this
Act MP David Garrett today admitted in Parliament that 26 years ago he obtained a false passport using the birth certificate of a dead child.
He said he had been later arrested and discharged without conviction.
In a statement to the House, Mr Garrett this afternoon said:
"I foolishly undertook a harmless prank 26 years ago... one that was to later have repercussions for me personally and for others who did not deserve to be hurt by my thoughtless actions."
Garrett said he used a method made known in the novel Day of the Jackal, and obtained the birth certificate of a child obtained around the time Garrett was born, but who died in infancy.
"I used this birth certificate to obtain a passport in the child's name. To this day I cannot explain the rationale behind my actions, except to see if such a thing could be done."
Mr Garrett said he never used the passport for any purpose and he later destroyed it.
Mr Garrett has previously admitted a conviction for assault in Tonga, which he has tried to appeal.
