The former US boxing champion Mike Tyson. (UPI)
Mike Tyson’s travel visa has been revoked in New Zealand because the former U.S. boxing champ is a convicted rapist, immigration officials said.
Tyson served three years of a six-year prison sentence for raping an 18-year-old woman in 1992.
He planned to bring his one-man show, which previously had limited runs in Las Vegas and on Broadway, to New Zealand next month.
Although he was initially granted a visa, it was later rescinded when it was discovered one of the criteria necessary for its approval wasn‘t met, The New Zealand Herald reported.
The Auckland newspaper said a letter of support believed to have been issued by the Life Education Trust charity was a significant factor in acceptance of the application and the visa was revoked after officials learned a volunteer with the trust, who had no authorization to do so, penned the letter.
The Herald quoted New Zealand Prime Minister John Key as saying he backed the decision to revoke Tyson’s visa.
“I think [Associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson] made the right decision on the basis of the fact that the Life Education Trust has withdrawn their support,” Key said.
“I find the concept of rape abhorrent -- it‘s wrong and I think we need to take that very, very seriously -- but I accept the view that we take these things on a case by case basis and it was a long time ago,” Key said. “I think she took the view -- and it was a very finely balanced call -- that if he was going to talk to people he might be able to use his life story to change behavior in any people who might be wanting to turn their lives around. But the reality is that the Life Education Trust came to us, had a change of heart and withdrew their support, so she really had no option but to withdraw the nomination.” (UPI)
<관련 한글 기사>
타이슨, 강간 때문에 뉴질랜드서 ‘퇴짜’
전 미국 복싱챔피언 마이크 타이슨이 자신의 강간 전과 때문에 뉴질랜드에서 비자를 돌연 취소당했다.
타이슨은 지난 1992년 18세 소녀를 강간한 혐의로 실형 6년을 선고 받고 총 3년을 복역한 전과가 있다.
그는 다음달부터 이미 라스베가스와 브로드웨이에서 상연을 제한받은 자신의 원맨쇼 공연을 뉴질랜드에서 열기로 계획했었던 것으로 알려졌다.
뉴질랜드 언론에 따르면 타이슨의 비자는 애초에 발급허가 단계까지 진행되었지만 이후 그가 한 가지 기준을 통과하지 못한 것이 발견되어 취소처리 됐다.
현지 또 다른 언론은 애초에 비자의 발급허가가 가능했던 것이 한 기부단체의 추천서 덕분이었다고 보도했다. 그러나 보도에 따르면 이 추천서는 이를 발급할 권한이 없는 사람에 의해 임의로 발급되었고 이 사실이 밝혀지면서 비자도 취소된 것으로 밝혀졌다. (코리아헤럴드)
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
