A number of immigration officers are under active investigation by police in connection with allegations of corruption.
Several other officers are being monitored and some are on suspension, as there is suspicion that they might be involved in iliegal activities.
However, the specific offences in question have not been revealed as the investigations are in progress.
These revelations came from Immigration Minister Shane Gibson yesterday when he appeared on the radio -show Real Talk on More94 FM and was put under pressure by a caller and the show’s host, Jeff Lloyd.
Mr Gibson said he could not elaborate on his statements and not say if or when the officers might be charged.
A caller insisted that he had directly submitted information to Mr Gibson some time ago indicating that some of the staff at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre had been accepting money in return for the release of illegal immigrants. The caller said he did not think any action had been taken.
Mr Lloyd expressed concern that despite numerous claims of corruption within the department, he knew of “not one single person in the immigration department who has been investigated.”
At this point, Mr Gibson agreed that he did not think it would be “incorrect” to say that there are a number of corrupt officers within the department, and confirmed that an “active investigation” into the matter was in fact under way.
“We actually have individuals out on suspension right now, from the immigration department. They have good evidence to suggest that these persons are doing some things they shouldn’t be,” he said.
Pressing the minister, Mr LLoyd pointed out: “When a crime is committed, police usually say “we will be able to arrest somebody for this crime sometime this week, we have a person of interest, we have investigations that are underway.” Last time you were on the show, three months ago, you said basically – the same thing you are saying now.”
He then asked the minister when the public can expect “somebody to possibly be charged from the department of immigration.”
Mr Gibson said he “would love to answer that,” but he had not been informed by the police as to what the status of the investigation is.
“There are a couple – not the majority – who are under active investigation. There are a couple who we are monitoring. I don’t want to go beyond that,” he said. “When I speak to the police officers I’ll try to get some definitive time as to when they believe we can actually have somebody brought before the courts.”
Mr Gibson said he was not aware of the exact number of officers under investigation, or exactly what activities they had been involved in, but added only that the evidence was “sufficient” to cause the police to be made aware of the situation.
His remarks come just over a year after an investigation was launched to determine whether immigration officers were issuing illegal work permits to migrants in return for money – and allegedly taking money for turning a blind eye against immigration infractions.
At that time, Senator Rev CB Moss commented that a “thorough house-cleaning” was required within the immigration department – particularly in light of the fundamental role officers from the department play in protecting the nation’s borders.
By ALISON LOWE, The Tribune
