Officers to be charged

IMMIGRATION and Citizenship Authority officers involved in the issuing of 176 fake visas to foreigners will be charged accordingly, says Minister for Immigration and Border Security Westly Nukundj.
Nukundj said investigations conducted by an immigration team and the police anti-corruption unit were almost complete with their report expected soon.
“On a Saturday, there were 176 fake visas issued by some staff of the department and others,” he said.
“Because it’s of national interest, we wanted to know what happened and where these visas ended up.”
Nukundj warned those who received these passports to bring them to the department before they are arrested.
He said all people involved would be taken to court.
“There were several arrests made but we don’t want to leave anyone out.
“We want everyone directly or indirectly responsible for the 176 fake visas to be held accountable,” Nukundj said.
“This is a criminal matter which will go through the normal court process.”
He said a taskforce secretariat would be set up in the department “to coordinate all operations” around the country.
Nukundj said such illegal activities affected national security.
Acting Chief Migration Officer Robert Kennedy said a syndicate had been operating in the department for some time.
“We don’t know how long. There is a network, a syndicate that operates within.”