UI2023004397

Pursuant to rule 14 of the Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) Rules 2008, [the appellant] ( and/or any member of his family, expert, witness or other person the Tribunal considers should not be identified ) is granted anonymity.

No-one shall publish or reveal any information, including the name or address of the appellant, likely to lead members of the public to identify the appellant ( and/or other person ). Failure to comply with this order could amount to a contempt of court .

              This is an appeal against the determination of First-tier Tribunal Judge Thorne, promulgated on 18 th August 2023, following a hearing at Birmingham on 3 rd August 2023. In the determination, the judge dismissed the appeal of the Appellant, whereupon the Appellant subsequently applied for, and was granted, permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal, and thus the matter comes before me.

              The Appellant is a male, a citizen of the DRC, who has a disputed date of birth. He appeals against the decision of the Respondent dated 6 th December 2022 which rejects his claimed age, his "Fear of the government", and his "Fear of being alone with no family" if returned to the DRC.

              Permission to appeal was granted by Judge Dainty in the First-tier Tribunal on 20 th September 2023 on the basis that the evidence plainly seemed to suggest that there was more than an ordinary closeness between the Appellant and his siblings, and in particular, "G" who was cleaned in relation to his personal hygiene by the Appellant himself.