Nystrom blames reoffending on Aussie govt

A convicted criminal deported to Sweden has blamed an offending relapse on the Australian government’s refusal to let him return home.

The federal government in April rejected a landmark United Nations ruling that Stefan Nystrom be allowed to return to Australia.

The 39-year-old was born in Sweden but arrived in Australia aged just 27 days old and remained until his deportation 36 years later.

The government cancelled his visa, arguing that his criminal record caused him to fail the Migration Act’s “character test”.

The UN’s Human Rights Committee in Geneva ruled last September that Australia had an obligation to provide Nystrom with an effective remedy and allow him to return.

Eight months later he is still in Sweden with no avenue to appeal after the Australian government opted to ignore the committee’s ruling.

Since being deported in 2006, Nystrom has been in and out of prison for 47 offences and has severe depression.

“You can’t just deport people, that’s why I shoplift. I steal food to eat,” he told SBS during an interview from a prison cell and shown on Friday night.

He is currently serving a three-month prison sentence for six charges including drug offences, shop lifting and damaging property.

“I can’t survive properly in this country,” he said, according to portions of the interview published on the broadcaster’s website.

“I’m an Aussie … I don’t speak Swedish.”

In Australia, Nystrom was convicted of the aggravated rape of a 10-year-old boy when he was 16 as well as 80 other offences including arson, property damage, armed robbery and burglary. He served his sentences for those offences.

The government says it takes seriously its “responsibility to protect the Australian community from the unacceptable risk of harm from criminals or other serious conduct by non citizens”.

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