Visa investigation leads to sacking

TWO Immigration officers have been terminated for allegedly issuing a visa fraudulently to a Bangladeshi accused of facilitating fraudulent visa applications for Bangladesh nationals.
Internal investigations directed by chief migration officer Solomon Kantha allegedly revealed that the two officers did not have authorisation to access the system but went to the office on Dec 31 last year, a holiday for the public service, and fraudulently registered, approved and processed the visa for the foreigner.
“I will not tolerate corrupt practices by my officers and will not hesitate to terminate staff who engage in such practices,” Kantha said. “We have a lot of good and hardworking staff who have turned around the reputation of the organisation in the last two years but a few staff engaging in such practices are not helping our vision of providing a professional service to our clients.
“By law if a visa was issued fraudulently, this visa is null and void and the foreigner whom the visa was issued becomes am unlawful stayer and will be deported from the country. Immigration will now work with police to have this foreigner removed permanently as his visa was issued fraudulently.”
“The two individuals have been referred to the Gordon police minor crimes last week to be charged for fraud and official corruption and I am still waiting for an action to be taken by police.
“I would like to thank the police for the close partnership and support they are providing to investigate visa fraud issues and in the removal of unlawful non-citizens in the country.”