All Grace Road Group outlets around the country were in shutdown mode yesterday while some staff protested with banners outside the Lautoka High Court to support their president, Daniel Kim.

Kim appeared before Justice Lyone Seneviratne, with his defence lawyers in a bid to prevent the process of his deportation.

His lawyers obtained a court order that stopped Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua from deporting him as an illegal immigrant in the country.

Representing Kim were Kings Counsel Simon Ower of the Victorian Bar of Melbourne, along with Ronald Gordon, Nilesh Prasad and Wasu Pillay.

His passport was nullified by the South Korean Government.

Mr Tikoduadua said the Government of Korea communicated through diplomatic channels on September 21, 2018 that they had nullified the passports of the seven individuals connected with the Grace Road Cult.

Daniel Kim at Lautoka High Court. Photo: Mereleki Nai

He says these individuals’ passports were nullified by the Korean Government in relation to charges laid by the South Korean Government which had issued a warrant for their arrest.

These seven individuals included Daniel Kim, Grace Road acting president Sung Jin Lee, Nam Suk Choi, Byeong Joon Lee, Jin Sook Yoon, Beomseop Shin and Chul Na.

Lee and Shin have been flown back to Korea while Mr Kim was still in custody and the other three have been released.

Judge Seneviratne ordered further materials to be filed by both parties for the September 29 hearing.

The other party presented by Ropate Green Lomavatu Solicitor-General for Office of the Attorney-General.

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