Glory Pius Nanai and Galinda Kiril Valchev (center) complete administrative requirements in Denpasar, Bali on Wednesday (August 18, 2021). (ANTARA/HO-KemenkumHAM Bali)
Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) - The Bali immigration authority said it is preparing to deport two Tanzanian nationals for overstaying their visa.
"The foreign nationals will be deported. They have been blacklisted because they have overstayed their visa by more than 60 days, in accordance with Law No. 6/2011 on Immigration," Head of the Office of Law and Human Rights Ministry in Bali Jamaruli Manihuruk informed in a press statement released on Wednesday.
The two Tanzanians, identified as Glory Pius Nanai and Galinda Kiril Valchev, have not yet been deported because they have not obtained air tickets to their country of origin, he explained.
Currently, Nanai and her six-month old infant are being held in custody in Denpasar, Bali, he said.
Nanai could not return home since she ran out of money, he added. She spent the money to give birth to her child, he said.
"She entered (Indonesia) on a visa waiver in early 2020, She has overstayed for nearly 500 days. She came to Bali for a vacation. She was trapped due to the pandemic. She ran out of money because she gave birth to a child. She wants to return home, but she has no money left and there is no flight," he said. - Antara News
Genocide suspect Venant Rutunga consults with his lawyer during his appearance before Kicukiro Primary Court on August 12. / Dan Nsengiyumva
Kicukiro Primary Court, on Tuesday, August 17 remanded Genocide suspect Venant Rutunga, saying there is enough reasonable ground to suspect him of having committed the crimes for which he is being prosecuted.
Rutunga, 72, is charged with three counts: Genocide, complicity in committing Genocide, and extermination as a crime against humanity.
He was extradited last month from The Netherlands.
He is said to have committed the alleged crimes mostly between April 26 and 30, 1994 in Butare (current Huye District) where he was working as the Regional Director of the Rwanda Agricultural Research Institute (ISAR-Rubona).
During a hearing held last week, prosecutors outlined to court a number of actions by the defendant during the genocide that led to loss of many lives – especially former employees of the institution he was leading.
Among these, they accused him of having participated in the killing of Epaphrodite Kalisa and George Ndamaje, two Tutsi employees at ISAR, when he instructed the Gendarmes (policemen) to hunt for them and kill them.
The prosecutors also pinned him on, among others, an incident where he allegedly drove a car and went to meet the then Prefect of Butare, to request him for armed policemen to assist in killing the Tutsis who had successfully defended themselves against the Interahamwe.
In his defence, Rutunga denied the charges.
He said that while he knew Ndamage and Kalisa, he never took part in their killing, arguing that those that killed them were tried and sentenced.
He admitted that he went to meet with the Prefect of Butare and requested for policemen, but the aim was not to kill Tutsis, but rather, “to defend ISAR from attacks by intruders” because he had learnt that there was an imminent attack that would happen.
In fact, he argued that, while he was away, the attackers came in, killed people and destroyed property, including his own house.
During the bail ruling held on Tuesday, presiding judge Dorothee Yankurije declared that the court has found enough reasonable ground for suspecting Rutunga for the crimes, since, among other things, he admitted that he knew the two employees who were killed, though he denied having taken part in the crime.
In addition, Yankurije said that Rutunga also admitted that he went to the Prefect of Butare to request for policemen, though he argued that it was not aimed at killing people.
“He said he brought the policemen to protect ISAR’s campus against an attack. However, witnesses say the policemen killed people. And, he did not showcase to court that he did anything to calm the situation,” she said.
With that, among other observations, Yankurije remanded Rutunga, so that the case will proceed while he is in jail.
He is the third person to be extradited from the European country. - Hudson Kuteesa, The New Times
While the vast majority of employers pay their employees at least the National Minimum Wage, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has today released some of the most absurd excuses used for not paying the legal minimum.
Last year (2020 to 2021) HMRC helped more than 155,000 workers across the UK recover more than £16 million in pay which was due to them, and also issued more than £14 million in penalties.
Some of the most ridiculous excuses for flouting the law included:
“She does not deserve the National Minimum Wage because she only makes the teas and sweeps the floors.”
“The employee was not a good worker, so I did not think they deserved to be paid the National Minimum Wage.”
“My accountant and I speak a different language – he does not understand me, and that is why he does not pay my workers the correct wages.”
“My employee is still learning so they are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage.”
“It is part of UK culture not to pay young workers for the first three months as they have to prove their ‘worth’ first.”
“The National Minimum Wage does not apply to my business.”
“I have got an agreement with my workers that I will not pay them the National Minimum Wage; they understand, and they even signed a contract to this effect.”
“I thought it was okay to pay young workers below the National Minimum Wage as they are not British and therefore do not have the right to be paid it.”
“My workers like to think of themselves as being self-employed and the National Minimum Wage does not apply to people who work for themselves.”
“My workers are often just on standby when there are no customers in the shop; I only pay them for when they are actually serving someone.”
Steve Timewell, Director Individuals and Small Business Compliance, HMRC, said:
“The majority of UK employers pay their workers at least the National Minimum Wage, but this list shows some of the excuses provided to our enforcement officers by less scrupulous businesses. Being underpaid is no joke for workers, so we always apply the law and take action. Workers cannot be asked or told to sign-away their rights.
“We are making sure that workers are being paid what they are entitled to and, as the economy reopens, reminding employers of the rules and the help that is available to them.
“HMRC reviews every complaint made about the minimum wage, so if you think you are being short-changed, or are a business that is unsure of the rules or needs help to get things right, get in touch and we will help you. But any employer deliberately or unapologetically underpaying their staff will face hefty fines and other enforcement action.”
The National Minimum Wage hourly rates are currently:
£8.91 - Age 23 or over (National Living Wage)
£8.36 - Age 21 to 22
£6.56 - Age 18 to 20
£4.62 - Age under 18
£4.30 - Apprentice.
HMRC is reminding workers to check the hourly rate of pay they are actually getting, and to also check any deductions or unpaid working time, as part of the Government’s commitment to build back fairer from the pandemic.
Anyone not being paid what they are entitled to can complain online at https://www.gov.uk/minimum-wage-complaint. If they want to speak with someone, in confidence, they should phone the Acas Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0300 123 1100, who can transfer the call to HMRC.
3. National Minimum Wage hourly rates (from 1 April 2021) are:
Age 23 or over (National Living Wage): £8.91
Age 21 to 22: £8.36
Age 18 to 20: £6.56
Age under 18: £4.62
Apprentice: £4.30.
4. By law workers must be paid at least the minimum wage for their age. Information about how to complain or raise concerns can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/minimum-wage-complaint
5. Employers who do not pay the NMW can be publicly ‘named and shamed’. The most recent list was published by BEIS on 5 August 2021. Those who blatantly fail to comply can face criminal prosecution, but most employers pay up when they realise mistakes have been made.
6. You are entitled to the apprentice rate if you are an apprentice aged:
under 19
19 or over and in the first year of your apprenticeship.
If you are 19 or over and have completed the first year of your current apprenticeship, you are entitled to the minimum wage for your age.
9. The Acas Pay and Work Rights Helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Calls are confidential, and the advice is free (0300 phone charges apply).
10. Follow HMRC’s Press Office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice
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