16 foreigners charged

SIXTEEN foreigners operating businesses and working in Lae have been charged and fined for breaching immigration laws.
Eight Bangladeshi and eight Chinese nationals were taken in for questioning over the weekend and yesterday regarding inconsistencies with their visas.
The action followed a spot check operation by Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) officers on several businesses.
“Eight Bangladeshi males with inconsistencies in their visas were picked up on Saturday,” ICA said.
“They were located in various shopping centres in Lae.
“Four were fined K5,000 each for various breaches of their visa conditions and released with a warning to fix the discrepancies.
“Eight Chinese nationals were identified with discrepancies in their visas and were brought to the ICA office in Lae for interview.
“Seven were fined K5,000 each for inconsistencies with their visa while one was charged with K25,000 for over-staying his visa.
“One male was referred to Labour (Department) for working as a store manager while his work permit was obtained as being for ‘manager research and policy’.”
Meanwhile, the main suspect involved in visa fraud case investigated in Port Moresby was picked up and questioned in Lae yesterday.
The Citizenship Authority said his statement would be used in an ongoing visa fraud investigation and would assist the police establish facts and lay charges accordingly.
“This person is related to the fraud cases identified in Port Moresby,” it said.
Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau also appealed to other unlawful non-citizens to voluntarily come forward.