Australian Bill Johnson left Solomon Islands voluntarily as he was residing illegally

Director of Solomon Islands Immigration Jeffery Deve clarified that 61 year old Bill Johnson has voluntarily left the country on Sunday.

Mr Deve says Mr Johnson decided to have Immigration authorities sent him to Australia as opposed to a deportation order.

Mr Deve says his department only facilitated the process of sending him back to Australia. He says Mr Johnson himself realised that he had been residing illegally in the country, and when put to him that he should be deported, he agreed to have him sent back.

The Immigration director says Mr Johnson failed to renew his permit to reside in the country.

Mr Deve says Mr Johnson had consented to spend a night in the custody of police before being put on a plane to Australia yesterday afternoon. He says Mr Johnson is also prohibited from re-entering the country.

Source: SIBC