STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 7 (UPI) -- A Swedish court ruled to allow a Cambodian man to change his Swedish Tax Agency records to reflect his true age, 12 years older than the records indicate.
The man, who was brought to Sweden by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees after his release from a Cambodian military prison, told the court he gave the agency false information -- a birth date of Jan. 1, 1960, to make it more difficult for Cambodian authorities to track him down, The Local reported Monday.
However, he told the administrative court of appeal that he now feels secure enough after 10 years in Sweden to give authorities his true birthday, Aug. 12, 1947.
The Tax Agency previously rejected the man's claim for what officials claimed was lack of sufficiently reliable proof. However, the appeals court accepted the evidence, including copies of an identification card and his release form from the Cambodian prison.
"The court considers that it should be sufficient if on assessment the new details appear to be correct when compared to the older information and taking into account the wider circumstances," the court's decision read.
The man, who was brought to Sweden by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees after his release from a Cambodian military prison, told the court he gave the agency false information -- a birth date of Jan. 1, 1960, to make it more difficult for Cambodian authorities to track him down, The Local reported Monday.
However, he told the administrative court of appeal that he now feels secure enough after 10 years in Sweden to give authorities his true birthday, Aug. 12, 1947.
The Tax Agency previously rejected the man's claim for what officials claimed was lack of sufficiently reliable proof. However, the appeals court accepted the evidence, including copies of an identification card and his release form from the Cambodian prison.
"The court considers that it should be sufficient if on assessment the new details appear to be correct when compared to the older information and taking into account the wider circumstances," the court's decision read.
5 comments:
Smart move. The man has just realised Sweden has a very generous social security system, and it is of benefit to him to age quickly.
KP
Liar, Liar, Liar !
You cannot stop lying ?
Most of Cambodian refugees changed their age to be younger hoping to continue their study in western contries. 30 years after, they are too old to work and want to earn retirement system money and they would change it back.
WHY DON'T JUST TELL THE TRUTH ?
This is true that most refugee changed their ages, it was a false propaganda from many people at the time. Luckily we did not change ours but my many friends lied about their true ages for some reasons or another.
It's unfortunate but Cambodian survive the Khmer Rough through lying.
It was the ignorant on the part of the officers who helped filling out the forms and also for their convenience. My age is two years less than my true age. At we were told to lower our age so we can stay in school. We reluctantly agreed due to the fact that we had not get a lot of schooling during the KR time. Also we were told to make it convenience to remember. Now some of us are regret to get the fake birthdays.
This is funny. His daughter just told me about this and now it is on the news!
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