Five arrested in immigration corruption probe

| 19/01/2017 | 51 Comments

(CNS): Five people have been arrested by investigators from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), with the assistance of the RCIPS, on suspicion of bribing public officials, fraud on government and breach of trust. While the ACC and police gave no details about the case, the home affairs ministry confirmed soon after the ACC announced the arrests that immigration staff are involved. The five people were arrested this morning and are currently being held for questioning at the Fairbanks detention centre, the ACC said in a short statement released to the media Thursday.

Acting Chief Immigration Officer Bruce Smith said the Department of Immigration was cooperating with the ongoing ACC inquiry and would continue to provide assistance and information as needed. He said that after receiving reports of alleged misconduct by some staff, it was senior immigration officials that “enlisted the expertise of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service”, which then referred the case to the ACC.

“The employees who are suspected of breaching the law will be placed on required leave in accordance with the Public Service Management Law,” Smith said. “Our commitment to serve and protect the community is always our main focus and we will continue to deliver on that promise.”

ACC officials said the five suspects, three of which are public servants, include a 42-year-old man from the Prospect area, a 56-year-old woman from George Town, a 43-year-old woman from Frank Sound and two women from West Bay, aged 33 and 37.

The ACC gave no other information and said there were no plans to release any further details yet.

CNS has begun its own inquiries into the arrests and will publish any further information that can be verified.

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Category: Crime, Police

Comments (51)

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  1. Burning Spear says:

    Yes 1128am its too bad we cannot get a Donald Trump like leader instead of the UK stooges we keep electing!

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  2. Anonymous says:

    What about the immigration officers who’s approving work permits while others apply and the permit is being denied and collect $$ under the table! That’s all the bread crumbs I’ll leave you with.

  3. Sherlock says:

    What ever happened to the missing drugs at the police station?

    • Jotnar says:

      Indeed. Or the investigation, which the former COP said was following up the fact it was an inside job, but details could not be divulged without endangering the investigation (which has never produced any results). Maybe the ACC should look at RCIPS as well, if they have managed to get to the point where they are actually prepared to do anything. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

  4. McCarron McLaughlin says:

    Great job Mr. Smith! Now you need to get to the bottom of all these permit holders that don’t speak or understand English.

    How are they passing the test? I little bird told me immigration insiders are getting paid off in advance of administring the test, pass them. You know the old saying $$$ walks and BS walks. Just saying….

    • Anonymous says:

      A number of Cayman kind could not pass a literacy test. Many permit holders also hold much better educations than the locals.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Thats true too. I works with some that stay jelous cause the boss give only me raise but thats cause I smarta than them and I know how to work.

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  5. Ex-Patriat says:

    Is that all?
    What about the unnecessary overtime for staff who ignore the public and their work all day?
    What about those at higher level who use work permits to control and scam people?
    What about the selective approvals or denials of applications depending on who you are or who don’t like you?
    What about sharing of people’s personal information with friends and families?
    Is that all or should I go on?

  6. Caymanian says:

    Listen….to all you making this bigger than it is.

    Cayman has corruption. If you didn’t know it your head is located where another body part should be. We are no different than anywhere else it’s only the level of it.

    Everyday in America there are hundred if not millions or even hundreds of millions of “schemes” going on. UK is no different, Canada no different. You name the place they have the same crap.

    • Anonymous says:

      How do you KNOW all this stuff?! You must be mighty clever or have lots of great contacts. Well done!

    • SKEPTICAL says:

      So just because it happens in the UK/US, it is OK for corruption to flourish in Cayman. Wonderful logic……..

      • Anonymous says:

        Hate when people manipulate an honest message.

        “Skeptical”; get a life.

        That is not what the poster was saying.

  7. Anonymous says:

    This is one greedy, corrupt island. Bet you all of these alleged criminals go to church every Sunday. This Christian nation has lost it’s way.

    • Caymanian says:

      No different than anywhere else buddy. This should not shock anyone to be honest because we all know that they doing crap just no one catch them.

      • Anonymous says:

        Corruption IS different in Cayman. Most of it goes unpunished and where it is, the guilty live the high life for years on full salary at home, before they are jailed.

  8. Man from Delmonte says:

    Oh please hush your big mouth 601pm no diffrent than hose spying for the UK getting contracts from the Government!

  9. Biting Ants says:

    Always some low level pee on never ever a lodge bro or those at the very top eh! Oh sorry they are are above the law and reproach????

  10. Sucka Free Cayman says:

    Oh give it a rest 601pm like this doesn’t happen with others The “Caribbean” learnt this from their Colonial masters who are more subtly with it A Wink and a Nod old boy!! If your statement is so true then why is the UK so hell bent on allowing and hiring others who come from jurisdictions rife with corruption to come here and direct and police us?

  11. Anonymous says:

    God bless whoever is signing off on these investigations and those who are charged with seeing them through. It’s about time we pulled up our socks!

  12. Anonymous says:

    Not surprised given the shambles immigration is in right now. Takes weeks to get your case “heard” , paperwork is over complicated and ask irrelevant questions like “where have you live for the past ten years?” Why? Are you even gonna confirm its the truth? Also, the queueing system is always broken forcing immigration customers to play musical chairs for 2 hours before they get service.

    They don’t care one bit about workers from other countries and are happy to rob their own government. This is one department that needs a serious overhaul…

  13. Anonymous says:

    Excellent time to submit for PR or hell, Status!

  14. Anonymous says:

    Here we go again. Paid suspensions for who knows how long just to be aquitted and put right back in their old positions. Prediction.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Paid vacations all round !

  16. Anonymous says:

    Corruption is endemic to this island. It runs from motioning friends and relatives to the front of the Que, Police losing reports on child rape, Drunk lawyers getting hands slapped, Fire Chief cannot find a friend, Project bids let to cronies and family, buying votes, need I continue. Corruption is how things get done or not done in Cayman and on just about any other island in the Carib.

    • Ironside says:

      …And just about anywhere else on earth that has a population of more than 2. I’m not defending corruption by any means, but due to our small population, these things are seen and come to light with frequency. More so than what is reporterd/read/followed in a larger population/country/island. So, let’s not think the Cayman Islands is any leader or top of the heap for corrupted governments, workers, et al.

      • Anonymous says:

        I agree with you on this , except in the ‘larger countries’, for the most part, the consequences are far more dire , exercising a larger deterrent. Less people are willing to take that risk . While I am no expert to comment on the social & civil outcome , it may be why smaller counties ( such as the Caribbean nations, as you point out ) have a larger percentage of violators per-capita , not just in similar incidents, but across the board.

        • Anonymous says:

          and in a larger country, they can “absorb” the losses better. If someone defrauds Cayman’s government by 10 million, the equivalent in the UK would be 12 billion!
          The cost to the Cayman tax payer is 10,000 times higher.

          Hence corruption in samll countries have a far more detrimental effect on their economies.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Well I take back everything I said about the lack of accountability in the Civil Service.

    What’s really important to note here is that the Civil Service referred this matter to the ACC.

    A sad development but a strong message to anyone who thinks that the Civil Service is not serious about performance management.

  18. Realist says:

    Well done! Now let’s work on some other departments.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Karma is “My BITCH” I Love her to death. I have been battling immigration issues for years and it seems that there are injustices. The people there take issues too personal and discriminate against certain nationalities. Take That!

  20. Unison says:

    Anothing thing, when are we going to have independent investigators (perhaps from the UK) to investigate the RCIP and those of high authority? It appears Immigration has the spot light. But we know too well that corruption just doesnt end with Immigration. 🙂

    • Involving the Uk in such investigations is like getting a fox to guard a hen house..Every nation that uses money HAS CORRUPTION. MONEY BUSINESS is corrupting by its very nature. Accept that it will happen and be prepared to deal with it, as it appears they were..Kudos!

  21. The Watcher says:

    Politicians and politically appointed chairpersons and board members need to be investigated then arrested and charged under the Anti-Corruption Law as well.

    There must be no sacred cows by the ACC and DPP office.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Oh FFS!! More paid vacations!

    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly!!!

      • Anonymous says:

        Solution? The ACC not do their job? You also need to appreciate the ACC operates different to police etc so lets not predict outcome and in the interest of these islands and those involved lets prey for the best.

  23. Anonymous says:

    And not so long ago many commenters on here were bemoaning the new ACC board as being without teeth….Corruption is generally the root of all evil and those guilty of it (both giving and accepting) should remain very aware and cease their activities….and therein lies the rub, unless both parties agree, you are screwed-that is the problem with corruption. Early days of course, but well done ACC.

    • Anonymous says:

      This one was spoon fed to RCIPS and then to the ACC. Their hand was forced. Normally their default state is inert myopic neutrality.

      • Anonymous says:

        Hmm, this is a newly constituted ACC, how would you know their normal default state ?

      • Anonymous says:

        Thank you Civil Service for doing your best to clean up your act.

        Civil Servants look at what is happening to your colleagues. Stand firm and do the right thing. You have great role models in the Service.

      • Anonymous says:

        And even sometimes trying to limit your access to them and their resources/legislation!

    • Anonymous says:

      Let’s not get too excited. Bet they get a paid vacation, no jail time and go back to work by the end of the year…

      • Anonymous says:

        Sorry, you will get no takers on that bet. The courts are kind to caymankind.

      • Jotnar says:

        You are being very optimistic in thinking this will resolve by the end of the year – paid vacation for at least 2 years, going by prior cases.

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