to his mother’s home in northeastern Romania. He further indicated

in the application that the arrival of a threatening letter at that address led him to flee to

Mexico and then, nine days later, to the United States.


       A review of the petitioner’s testimony at the April 2001 hearing reveals additional

discrepancies. He said at that time, for example, that the Romanian mine where he had

worked had closed in 1996 and that the attack listed in the application as happening in

December 2000 had actually occurred three years earlier, in December 1997. Moreover,

Bortas testified that he was physically attacked only two times, rather than the three


                    carnage strike a summer Saturday night. A deadly terrorist attack carried out in two locations. There was a police car. Sirens going after everywhere. Reporter: The assault began shortly after 10:00 London time. A white van swerves, levers the rodeway, and starts plowing into pedestrians. We heard a crash almost. A loud noise. Reporter: That van coming to a stop just past the end of London bridge. Steps away from the bustling borough market. Three men armed with long blades, they start slashing and stabbing people. The attackers were shouting this is for Allah. I saw loads of people run away from the market. There were people lying on the the ground. He went up and stabbed this girl I don't know how many time, ten times, maybe