Case Name: Jasbinder SINGH, Petitioner, v. Michael B. MUKASEY, Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2007-12-28
Citations: 262 F. App'x 757
Docket Number: No. 06-71995
Parties: Jasbinder SINGH, Petitioner, v. Michael B. MUKASEY, Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: Before: GOODWIN, WALLACE, and HAWKINS, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 262
Pages: 757–757

Head Matter:
Jasbinder SINGH, Petitioner, v. Michael B. MUKASEY, Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 06-71995.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Dec. 20, 2007.
Filed Dec. 28, 2007.
Kuldip S. Dhariwal, Esq., Fremont, CA, for Petitioner.
Ronald E. LeFevre, Chief Counsel, Office of the District Counsel, San Francisco, CA, Christina P. Giffín, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
Before: GOODWIN, WALLACE, and HAWKINS, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Jasbinder Singh, a native and citizen of India, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge's ("IJ") decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency's factual findings. Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir.2003). We deny the petition for review.
The IJ had reason to question Singh's credibility regarding his identity as a Sikh because he appeared at the hearing with short hair, clean shaven, without a knife and without a bracelet, and provided conflicting testimony regarding his appearance. See Sidhu v. INS, 220 F.3d 1085, 1092 (9th Cir.2000) (stating that when IJ has reason to question applicant's credibility, IJ may require applicant to corroborate testimony or offer credible explanation for failure to corroborate). In this case, the documents provided by Singh introduced more inconsistencies about his identity and adherence to Sikhism. Substantial evidence therefore supports the credibility determination. See Pal v. INS, 204 F.3d 935, 938 (9th Cir.2000).
Without credible testimony Singh failed to establish a protected ground and we uphold the agency's denial of asylum and withholding of removal. See Farah, 348 F.3d at 1156. Because the evidence in the record does not establish that Singh would more likely than not be tortured if returned to India, we uphold the agency's determination that protection under CAT is unavailable. See Almaghzar v. Gonzales, 457 F.3d 915, 922-23 (9th Cir.2006).
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.