Former Sudanese child soldier arrested in Queensland

One of 148 people released from immigration detention following the High Court’s landmark ruling will be extradited from Queensland to a NSW prison.

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles.

A refugee released from immigration detention following a landmark High Court ruling will be returned to prison in New South Wales.

Former Sudanese child soldier William Yekrop was arrested in Queensland on Thursday after authorities realised he had been released despite an outstanding warrant for allegedly breaching parole in 2012 before he was placed in immigration detention.

Yekrop was one of 149 people released into the community after the High Court ruled the indefinite detention of non-citizens who had served their sentences and had no realistic prospect of deportation or resettlement was unlawful.

He faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday morning via video link from the police watch house.

Yekrop, 39, told Magistrate Sue Ganasan that he did not oppose being extradited back to New South Wales.

Magistrate Ganasan said the warrant was issued for him to serve the balance of his parole period for earlier offending.

When asked if he consented to the application, Yekrop replied “yes your honour”.

“Thank you, I accept that you should be transmitted, conveyed to the correctional centre in New South Wales and that the general manager detain you for the completion of your sentence,” Magistrate Ganasan said.

It’s alleged Yekrop breached his parole conditions shortly after he was released from prison in 2011 for an assault offence.

But before he was returned to prison for that breach, he was sent to immigration detention.

Of the 149 people released from detention last month, Yekrop is now the fifth to have been arrested.

In the wake of the High Court ruling, amended migration legislation was rushed through parliament.

Under the laws, released detainees identified by the government and assessed by a court to pose an unacceptable risk would be put back behind bars for up to three years, but each detainee’s detention order would be reviewed each year.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the government was already preparing to apply to the courts to re-detain individuals deemed to be a high risk of reoffending, but would not reveal how many people it was seeking to lock up.

Originally published as Former Sudanese child soldier arrested in Queensland