NSW coroner refers 2019 death of Filipino trainee to federal police

A New South Wales coroner has referred the death of a Filipino migrant worker to the Australian Federal Police to consider further investigations. The referral follows findings into the death of 21-year-old Jerwin Royupa, who died after jumping or falling from a moving vehicle in 2019.

Deputy state coroner Rebecca Hosking concluded Royupa, a trainee at a winery, was "exploited" and exposed to "potentially criminal" conduct during his five weeks in Australia. Royupa died in March 2019 after "voluntarily" exiting a van driven by his training scheme sponsor, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Hosking found Royupa had become "increasingly fearful" of the sponsor in the days before his death; on 14 March 2019 the sponsor threatened to take him to the airport or police. While Royupa lay unconscious at the roadside the sponsor did not immediately call an ambulance, disparaged him to a paramedic and left the scene after being told not to, conduct Hosking described as "deplorable".

Royupa died the next day at the Royal Melbourne hospital from complications of "multiple blunt force injuries". Hosking found Royupa arrived on a temporary subclass 407 training visa and was "exclusively" performing manual labour rather than any educational training. He was required to work "excessive" hours — up to 60 a week — in heat without appropriate clothing or sun protection.

Key Topics

World, Jerwin Royupa, New South Wales, Australian Federal Police, Rebecca Hosking