Customs officer suspended in corruption case

| 04/10/2017 | 22 Comments

(CNS): An unidentified senior female customs officer has been suspended from her job as a result of allegations of corruption, Collector of Customs Charles Clifford said in a release Wednesday. No details have been revealed about the latest law enforcement official to be placed on required leave as a result of a corruption related accusation, though Clifford revealed it been referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission for an independent investigation. He told the Customs Department staff that his decision to place the officer on leave pending the outcome of the investigation was in the public interest.

Clifford repeated the message that he sent to his staff about the issue in the release: “We must all remember that the presumption of innocence must apply in all cases and this one is no exception. However, it is equally important to assure everyone that there is absolutely no place in the Customs Department for any officer who is engaged in corruption or any other criminal activity.” 

He said that as a matter of policy, the Customs Department does not identify individuals who are subject to investigation and would not be doing so in this case. “We must now await the outcome of the independent investigation in order to determine whether additional action is necessary,” he added.

At least two other customs officers are currently suspended on full pay while they face criminal allegations that are proceeding through the criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, several immigration officers have been also been suspended on full pay in another ongoing corruption investigation. Nine people have been arrested in connection with the inquiry, which is understood to relate to bribery regarding the culture test, which must be taken by people applying for permanent residency.

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Comments (22)

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  1. Catcha FIre says:

    Corruption is contagious and when you bring those who are already infected with corruption and install them into another host or instittution. What do you honestly expect corruption not to spread? Our government is a notorious agent of transmission especially those at the very top, because its in their best interest to see it spread to justify their lack of management skill or incompetence. In some instance those who governs us also allows it to flourish because it is self serving, because they use it to justify their presence here and it in some instances allows them to maintain control and rule with and iron fist.

  2. Anonymous says:

    If they’re bad officers root them out, it’s no different than any place in the world! Alot of epats are crimals that’s why they’re running here!! Bracka.

  3. Anonymous says:

    typical expats…..oh wait…

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    • Anonymous says:

      was that absolutely necessary? It doesn’t add anything to this particular discussion, is inflammatory and divisive. In fact its mischief making and speaks more about you than you would perhaps care to ordinarily share.

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    • Anonymous says:

      No, it was expats a few weeks ago.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    If those people are found guilty, do they have to pay back the salary they got while they were suspended? I am tired of funding those extended vacation leaves…. The penalty for someone working in any capacity for Government should be much higher if they contact their crimes at their place of work.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    whole dept need a change out!

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  6. Shanobi says:

    All Government workers who are suspended should be with out pay, All this bs about suspended with pay needs to stop, Suspend them without pay an trust me the truth will come out…!!!

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Is there any way that this can be blamed on Ex pats. These are the cream of Cayman Society.

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    • Anon says:

      Too much Caymanisation! Anyway keep hiring Caymanians leave out expats when the shit hit the fan no expats to be blamed like the RCIP.

  8. Anonymous says:

    What’s disturbing about these recent cases is that it’s been very evident for over a decade that things were not exactly right at both immigration and customs but we’re only now seeing anything being done about it. Why has it taken so long to start sorting this mess out?

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  9. Jimbo says:

    Customs officer? Corruption? Nahhhhhhhhhh, surely not

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Is there anyone left in customs and immigration or are they all suspended……

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Another extended vacation with full pay plus benefits
    hopefully not 3 years or more

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