The UK government has come under intense criticism after it was revealed that Hadush Kebatu, a convicted migrant s3x offender who was mistakenly released from prison, was paid £500 to leave the country before being deported to Ethiopia.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the payment on Wednesday, saying she shared the public’s anger over Kebatu’s release and had “pulled every lever” to ensure his removal from British soil. However, the revelation that the offender received a cash payment has sparked widespread outrage.
According to Downing Street, the £500 payment was an “operational decision” made to avoid a costlier and more complex deportation process after Kebatu allegedly threatened to disrupt his deportation flight. Officials explained that detaining him further or arranging another flight could have cost taxpayers thousands of pounds and prolonged the case.
Kebatu, who had been living at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, entered the UK illegally via a small boat on June 29. He later s3xually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman, triggering protests outside the hotel housing asylum seekers. After serving part of a one-year prison sentence, he was mistakenly freed from HMP Chelmsford instead of being transferred to an immigration detention centre.
The blunder led to a two-day manhunt, ending with his re-arrest in London on Sunday. He was forcibly deported to Ethiopia on Tuesday night, accompanied by five security escorts.
The government clarified that Kebatu had applied for a resettlement scheme that can offer up to £1,500 to migrants who agree to voluntary return, but his request was rejected. However, after he threatened to disrupt the flight, officials opted to offer a smaller payment to ensure his immediate departure.
The decision has been widely condemned by opposition figures and critics. Kemi Badenoch’s spokesperson called the move an “absolute disgrace,” accusing the government of “messing up the immigration system.”
Border Security Minister Alex Norris told Good Morning Britain that such payments are sometimes made to “save taxpayer money,” though he could not confirm whether Kebatu personally received the money.
Home Secretary Mahmood expressed frustration over the incident, calling it “a blunder that should never have happened.” She thanked police for swiftly rearresting Kebatu and confirmed his deportation, saying, “Our streets are safer because this vile child s3x offender has been removed. If you come to this country and commit crimes, we will remove you.”
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy described the case as “unacceptable” and attributed it to human error, announcing an independent inquiry to uncover what went wrong.
The case has added to growing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, which is facing criticism over record numbers of migrants crossing the English Channel and recent high-profile crimes involving asylum seekers.
On the same day Kebatu was deported, the UK government announced a new fast-track deportation deal with Vietnam to speed up the removal of illegal migrants. Starmer said the agreement “sends a clear message: if you come to the UK illegally, you will be swiftly returned.”
In addition, concerns have been raised in Parliament over plans to house nearly 900 asylum seekers at two former army barracks, the Cameron Barracks in Inverness and the Crowborough Army Camp in England, as part of efforts to phase out hotel accommodations.
A recent parliamentary report found that successive governments had “squandered billions” on a flawed asylum housing system, while critics warn that using former military sites risks repeating past failures that resulted in legal action from asylum seekers.
