Latest news with #Canadian-Australian
Daily Telegraph
24-04-2025
- Daily Telegraph
Lawyer's link to famous Lebanese kid-snatch
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. EXCLUSIVE As a divorce lawyer Pierre Hawach, estranged husband of Sally Singleton-Hawach, knows well the workings of the court system. It was his appearance as a witness in the NSW Supreme Court in 2006 however that stands today as perhaps his most famous court appearance. Hawach is the brother of Joseph Hawach who, in July 2006, during a custody visit with his two young children, fled to Lebanon taking the children without their mother Melissa's permission. The story of Canadian-born mother Melissa Hawach's battle to recover her two daughters made headlines around the world inspiring first a website, and later a book, Flight of the Dragonfly, after the courageous mother executed a daring operation to recover her daughters from Lebanon. Sally Singleton-Hawach to her wedding to Pierre Hawach in Rome. Instagram. Melissa Hawach outside Supreme Court in Sydney with parents Jim and Judy Engdahl 30 Nov 2006. The girls, Hannah and Cedar, who have dual Canadian-Australian citizenship, lived in Calgary, Canada, with their parents from 2003. When Joseph and Melissa's six-year marriage failed in 2005, Joseph moved home to Australia but Melissa remained in Canada with her daughters, of whom she retained sole custody. The girls were aged just five and three when their mother agreed they could spend three weeks in Australia with their father in July 2006 on a custody visit. The Hawach family is a Lebanese-Australian family from Sydney's Rose Hill. It was then that father Joseph disappeared with the girls and cut off communication with his ex-wife. Joseph Hawach, Lebanese-Australian who abducted his two daughters Hannah and Cedar from estranged Canadian wife Melissa. Melissa Hawach leaves the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney. It would take the determined mother seven months to recover her children in an operation involving four former members of elite Australian and New Zealand special forces who ran an undercover surveillance exercise established outside Beirut where the girls' father had them secreted at a resort. Two of the operatives would be jailed for obstructing justice for their part in the operation while another two ex-soldiers would escape. They were released from jail in 2007. Melissa Hawach's story, and the terrifying seven-week recovery mission, took mother and daughters through a series of safe houses in Lebanon before the trio fled home to Canada via Syria and Jordan. Once home, they went into hiding. Prior to the successful retrieval operation, Melissa Hawach launched legal action in the NSW Supreme Court seeking information from her ex-husband's family about her daughter's whereabouts. In December 2006, Pierre Hawach told the Supreme Court he did not know where his brother and the children were located in Lebanon. He revealed he had spoken to Joseph on the phone and his brother had told him he was not planning to return from Lebanon. Mr Hawach's father Elias Hawach, speaking through an Arabic interpreter, informed the court his wife Gladys had been visiting family in the Lebanese village Harf-Miziara for a three-month period. Sally Singleton-Hawach pictured right with father John Singleton Pierre Hawach and Sally Singleton at the Magic Millions Joseph Hawach was later charged with two counts of child abduction by the Lebanese court and international warrants issued for his arrest. No adverse findings were made by the Supreme Court against Pierre and Elias Hawach. Joseph Hawach's relatives got on with their lives. His brother, Pierre, married singer Sally Singleton-Hawach in a lavish ceremony in Rome in 2015. Among wedding guests were her high profile parents, multi-millionaire retired ad boss John Singleton and his ex wife, 1972 Miss World Belinda Green. The couple are parents to three young children - Lewis, seven, Mirabel, six and four-year-old Johnny, named after his grandfather. On March 25 Parramatta court issued an interim domestic apprehended violence order preventing Pierre Hawach from approaching Sally. The DVO matter returns to court on Tuesday. No charges have been laid. Mr Hawach is not accused of any wrongdoing. He has been approached for comment. Originally published as Top lawyer is linked to infamous Lebanese child-snatching case
News.com.au
24-04-2025
- News.com.au
Top lawyer is linked to infamous Lebanese child-snatching case
EXCLUSIVE As a divorce lawyer Pierre Hawach, estranged husband of Sally Singleton-Hawach, knows well the workings of the court system. It was his appearance as a witness in the NSW Supreme Court in 2006 however that stands today as perhaps his most famous court appearance. Hawach is the brother of Joseph Hawach who, in July 2006, during a custody visit with his two young children, fled to Lebanon taking the children without their mother Melissa's permission. The story of Canadian-born mother Melissa Hawach's battle to recover her two daughters made headlines around the world inspiring first a website, and later a book, Flight of the Dragonfly, after the courageous mother executed a daring operation to recover her daughters from Lebanon. The girls, Hannah and Cedar, who have dual Canadian-Australian citizenship, lived in Calgary, Canada, with their parents from 2003. When Joseph and Melissa's six-year marriage failed in 2005, Joseph moved home to Australia but Melissa remained in Canada with her daughters, of whom she retained sole custody. The girls were aged just five and three when their mother agreed they could spend three weeks in Australia with their father in July 2006 on a custody visit. The Hawach family is a Lebanese-Australian family from Sydney's Rose Hill. It was then that father Joseph disappeared with the girls and cut off communication with his ex-wife. It would take the determined mother seven months to recover her children in an operation involving four former members of elite Australian and New Zealand special forces who ran an undercover surveillance exercise established outside Beirut where the girls' father had them secreted at a resort. Two of the operatives would be jailed for obstructing justice for their part in the operation while another two ex-soldiers would escape. They were released from jail in 2007. Melissa Hawach's story, and the terrifying seven-week recovery mission, took mother and daughters through a series of safe houses in Lebanon before the trio fled home to Canada via Syria and Jordan. Once home, they went into hiding. Prior to the successful retrieval operation, Melissa Hawach launched legal action in the NSW Supreme Court seeking information from her ex-husband's family about her daughter's whereabouts. In December 2006, Pierre Hawach told the Supreme Court he did not know where his brother and the children were located in Lebanon. He revealed he had spoken to Joseph on the phone and his brother had told him he was not planning to return from Lebanon. Mr Hawach's father Elias Hawach, speaking through an Arabic interpreter, informed the court his wife Gladys had been visiting family in the Lebanese village Harf-Miziara for a three-month period. Joseph Hawach was later charged with two counts of child abduction by the Lebanese court and international warrants issued for his arrest. No adverse findings were made by the Supreme Court against Pierre and Elias Hawach. Joseph Hawach's relatives got on with their lives. His brother, Pierre, married singer Sally Singleton-Hawach in a lavish ceremony in Rome in 2015. Among wedding guests were her high profile parents, multi-millionaire retired ad boss John Singleton and his ex wife, 1972 Miss World Belinda Green. The couple are parents to three young children - Lewis, seven, Mirabel, six and four-year-old Johnny, named after his grandfather. On March 25 Parramatta court issued an interim domestic apprehended violence order preventing Pierre Hawach from approaching Sally. The DVO matter returns to court on Tuesday. No charges have been laid. Mr Hawach is not accused of any wrongdoing.
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The only business on Australia's Norfolk Island to face US tariffs
A Canadian couple on Australia 's Norfolk Island are likely the only business owners on the South Pacific outpost that will be directly affected by the Trump administration's tariffs. The island, which has a remote population of 2,000 people 1,600 kilometers northeast of Sydney, exports nothing to the United States but was singled out with a 29 per cent tariff. Jesse Schiller and Rachel Evans, both 41, own a business on the island that makes plastic-free hair accessories under the brand Kooshoo, which means 'feeling good' in the English-Tahitian creole known as Norf'k or Norfuk. Schiller said he and his Norfolk Island -born wife are likely the only business owners on the island that will pay elevated tariffs — and they will pay at the rates imposed on Japan and India, where the goods are manufactured. Around 80 per cent of Kooshoo's business is with the United States. 'We're probably the most affected business' on Norfolk Island, Schiller said. Norfolk Island was a shock inclusion in the Trump administration's list of global tariffs announced last week that was intended to redress U.S. trade deficits with the world - after Australia and its external territories were assigned the global minimum 10% tariff, including the uninhabited Heard and McDonald Islands in the Antarctic region. 'I think Norfolk became a parable of sorts for the lack of nuance with which these tariffs went out in the world,' Schiller said. Schiller and Evans, a Canadian-Australian dual national, have the consolation of being dealt slightly lower tariffs: Japan has been assigned a 24 per cent tariff and India 26 per cent. Why Norfolk Island came in for such severe and apparently futile tariff treatment has been a popular topic of conversation among locals. 'It's been a question of great intrigue locally,' Schiller said. 'An early theory — and it seems to be proving right — is that there are other notable Norfolks in the world. Norfolk, of course, in the U.K., Norfolk in Virginia in the U.S., and it seems as though some improperly labeled customs paperwork may have contributed to the … error,' Schiller said. 'That could've been very easily fact-checked,' he added. His wife, Evans, has an impressive Norfolk Islander lineage. She is a 9th-generation descendant of a crewman of the British naval ship HMS Bounty who mutinied in 1789, although her mother is Canadian. The mutineers, whose exploits have been dramatised in Hollywood movies, established a settlement on Pitcairn Islands and their descendants later settled the former British penal colony of Norfolk Island. She said the sustainable lifestyle she had learned from growing up on such an isolated island around 8 kilometers (5 miles) long and 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide had been part of the brand since they started their business in Vancouver 15 years ago. She was confident their business would survive the latest trade barriers. 'Definitely for the short-term we'll figure out a way to bridge this,' Evans said.
Boston Globe
08-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Canadian couple likely the only business owners on Australia's Norfolk Island to face US tariffs
Advertisement 'We're probably the most affected business' on Norfolk Island, Schiller said. Norfolk Island was a shock inclusion in the Trump administration's list of global tariffs announced last week that was intended to redress U.S. trade deficits with the world. While Australia and its external territories were assigned the global minimum 10% tariff, including the uninhabited Heard and McDonald Islands in the Antarctic region, Norfolk Island was singled out for a 29% tariff. 'I think Norfolk became a parable of sorts for the lack of nuance with which these tariffs went out in the world,' Schiller said. Schiller and Evans, a Canadian-Australian dual national, have the consolation of being dealt slightly lower tariffs: Japan has been assigned a 24% tariff and India 26%. Advertisement Why Norfolk Island came in for such severe and apparently futile tariff treatment has been a popular topic of conversation among locals. 'It's been a question of great intrigue locally,' Schiller said. 'An early theory — and it seems to be proving right — is that there are other notable Norfolks in the world. Norfolk, of course, in the U.K., Norfolk in Virginia in the U.S., and it seems as though some improperly labeled customs paperwork may have contributed to the … error,' Schiller said. 'That could've been very easily fact-checked,' he added. His wife, Evans, has an impressive Norfolk Islander lineage. She is a 9th generation descendant of a crewman of the British naval ship HMS Bounty who mutinied in 1789, although her mother is Canadian. The mutineers, whose exploits have been dramatized in Hollywood movies, established a settlement on Pitcairn Islands and their descendants later settled the former British penal colony of Norfolk Island. She said the sustainable lifestyle she had learned from growing up on such an isolated island around 8 kilometers (5 miles) long and 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide had been part of the brand since they started their business in Vancouver 15 years ago. She was confident their business would survive the latest trade barriers. 'Definitely for the short-term we'll figure out a way to bridge this,' Evans said.
CBC
19-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
'Rising problem' of ghost consultancies hits man who lost $12K trying to get Canadian visa for wife
Social Sharing This story is part of Welcome to Canada, a CBC News series about immigration as told through the eyes of the people who have experienced it. Krishan Jogia turned to an immigration consultancy before landing in Toronto in 2023, only to realize later — after spending thousands of dollars — that he had been dealing with a "ghost" consultancy apparently operating illegally in Canada. Jogia, a dual Canadian-Australian citizen, sought the services of Canada Global Migration Consultants (GMC) for a Canadian visitor visa for his wife, Luana Cabral de Carvalho. They eventually received it, but things didn't go as smoothly when they tried again for her spousal visa. "Canada GMC visually, like if you've seen their YouTube, Instagram and website, comes off as very polished," Jogia said. "When you call them, you get a proper help desk with hold music and everything." However, in early 2024, Jogia said, their consultant "just disappeared." For months, he said, the consultancy kept ignoring them and shuffled them around to different colleagues. The two were able to get hold of that consultant, who is a registered immigration consultant, directly. He told them, in an email seen by CBC News, that they left Canada GMC due to "their unethical work practices." "We started really aggressively trying to pursue a refund, and that's when they just stopped replying and just ignored us," Jogia said. The company's name does not appear on the list of immigration consultancies permitted to operate in Canada, contrary to the law. A spokesperson for the body that regulates the profession, the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), said immigration consultants must only provide services "under a business name that is registered with the college and appears on the public register." Ultimately, Jogia said, the couple paid roughly $12,000 to Canada GMC and consulted a lawyer to take action against the company, which "ignored the demand letter." The company did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The couple filed a complaint with the CICC about their experience with Canada GMC. Even approaching the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and Better Business Bureau hasn't remedied anything. "I mean, it's disappointing. It doesn't even sum it up right. It's surprising how unregulated the industry is and just the lack of desire to do anything about it," Jogia said. Why newcomers may use consultants over lawyers Experts say newcomers prefer consultants to lawyers for their immigration paperwork and applications because they're more affordable. But there are calls for more scrutiny and enforcement by the CICC to penalize those operating without a licence. Unlicensed individuals acting as licensed consultants are known as ghost consultants. A new survey commissioned by CBC News has found more newcomers are choosing immigration consultants over lawyers, but they have concerns about oversight of both professions. The survey, conducted by market research firm Pollara in November 2024, asked 1,507 people who arrived in Canada in the past 10 years about their immigration experiences and found 33 per cent of those surveyed used consultants, while 16 per cent used lawyers. Overall, 89 per cent also said Canada needs to do a better job with regulating consultants and lawyers. A national survey of that size would normally have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. What is Canada GMC and who owns it? On its website, Canada GMC advertises having a team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC), but neither the company nor most of the staff the couple interacted with can be found on the public register of those certified. The seemingly multinational entity is owned by a company in Israel called Media Bubble. The Canada GMC website is owned and operated by a private company, WorldMigration Unipessoal LDA, which is based in Portugal and runs similar businesses for the U.K. and Australia. In Canada, the consultancy lists a downtown Ottawa address on its website. CBC reached out to the building operator, who confirmed no consultancy of that name ever ran its businesses there. New York state resident Lorre Denise Schneer said she too fell prey to Canada GMC. Schneer and her family were trying to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents. As a new mother, she paid Canada GMC $5,260 US to handle her application, only to realize one wasn't submitted. Like Jogia, Schneer and her family have tried all avenues to remedy the situation but to no avail. "I was so excited about Canada … but knowing that a country is allowing a business like this to operate and there's no ramifications for it, that gives me such a bad taste because this should never be allowed to happen, because even the smartest of individuals can fall prey to something like this." It's far from the only operation of its kind. Social media drive 'misinformation:' licensed consultant In the border city of Windsor, Ont., experts say ghost consultants are a rising problem. H&S operates in an unmarked industrial building in a trucking parking lot by Sandwich Street, walking distance from the Gordie Howe International Bridge. "At H&S Immigration, we're not just your typical immigration consultants — we're your partners in realizing your dreams," reads their website. "As a result of our unwavering commitment and high approval rates, we've proudly risen to become one of the leading immigration consultancies in North India." Calling itself a "trusted partner," the consultancy, which has been around for eight years, has two overseas branches in Punjab, India, a top country of origin for newcomers to Canada. But, like Canada GMC, it is not licensed and did not respond to multiple CBC requests. Hussein Zarif, executive director at Canada By Choice, an immigration consultancy, said the presence of unlicensed consultants is "very unfortunate but not surprising." Zarif said a majority of Canada By Choice's clients have been approached by fraudulent consultants promising them pathways to a permanent future in Canada, resulting in many "coming with tears" after being defrauded. "The people that are affected are the most vulnerable people. It is a rising problem," he said. "It hurts us licensed immigration consultants too." Often, it's recent newcomers who aren't aware of the legal systems and who fall prey to fraudulent consultants, Zarif said. From illegally selling job offers to helping bypass immigration requirements, these "warning signs" should alert newcomers of ghost consultants who often don't even submit applications, he added. "Education is a huge part of the solution of educating immigrants." The problem is more profound online. Social media like Instagram and YouTube are filled with pages and channels offering immigration advice — many call themselves educational consultants. Zarif said many clients walk in with false information they learned from social media consultants. "All that misinformation at the end of the day is going to lead people in desperate situations to take desperate actions rather than coming to a professional." College reviewing reports of fake consultants Becoming a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant involves completing an entry-to-practice exam and successful completion of a graduate diploma program through Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., or the University of Montreal. The schools say interest in these programs is growing. According to the CICC, there are 11,999 licensees in Canada, with 5,586 of them based in Ontario and the majority in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The regulatory college said it has received 682 reports of unauthorized practitioners (UAP) since its inception in 2021. Of those, 289 remain open and are being reviewed. "Additionally, we have taken down more than 5,000 UAP social media pages and websites in the last year," the college said, noting it cannot hold them accountable for their actions. Lack of immigration lawyers adds to the problem In her more than three decades of experience of working with newcomers, Shelley Gilbert, executive director of Legal Assistance of Windsor, has seen the threat of ghost consultants first hand. But with recent immigration changes and the path to remain in Canada on a permanent basis becoming more difficult, Gilbert said there are "more and more people desperate" to stay. "That gave an opportunity for unscrupulous people to take advantage of all of that desperation that we're seeing here now. The numbers [of such consultants] have likely gone up because they prey on that," she said. As recent newcomers find different avenues to remain, the bad actors, Gilbert said, continue to exploit applicants by offering pathways that don't exist. She said part of her organization's job is to provide accurate information and education. "One of the difficulties that we have in Windsor and Essex County is a lack of immigration lawyers," she said, paving the way for consultants to bridge that gap. Gilbert advises asking for references and getting second opinions. "It's hard to do because very often, exploitive consultants will also make people feel bad for asking questions, for questioning their authority. That should also be a red flag for you." Legal recourse also limited: immigration lawyer Andrew Koltun, an immigration lawyer in Ontario's Niagara Region, is calling for changes to the Immigration Refugee Protection Act to protect people who fall victim to scams. The Federal Court has determined that if you use a representative in your immigration claims, you are responsible for their actions, including any misrepresentation, Koltun said. In effect, then, if you want to try to hold a scam consultant legally accountable, you're effectively revealing you've committed misrepresentation. "That would then likely lead to your deportation from Canada," he said. "So, there's that big fear. That means if you take action against someone who has really scammed you, it will lead to your removal from Canada, which is the opposite of what you want." Knowing that general fear of deportation, Koltun said, fraudulent consultants threaten reporting such clients to authorities if they want to pursue any legal action against them. There are going to be "collateral consequences of trying to seek justice."
