Defendants deny messages relate to bribery

Department of Immigration

(CNS): Five immigration officers and one civilian have all denied that messages between them have anything to do with a conspiracy regarding bribes paid to them to inappropriately assist people to pass an English test in order to secure work permits. Each of the defendants who have appeared in the witness box have suggested what appear to be messages about taking money in relation to these tests all have innocent explanations. The crown’s case against them is that they were all taking a cut of bribes paid for offering help with a free but mandatory test for non-native English speakers seeking permits. The alleged bribes were to ensure they passed, despite their inability to speak the language. 

As each defendant took to the witness stand over the last week or so to answer the corruption conspiracy charges, they have pointed to the local illegal numbers game, which they said many immigration officers take part in, a department internal sweepstake, commission on apartment rentals and other work they were involved with to explain hundreds of phone messages between various people charged in this case.

Each person has denied playing any part in a bribery conspiracy, which prosecutors say took place over a more than twelve-month period, beginning in 2015 and continuing through to 2016.

The crown contends that several immigration officers were taking and splitting $600 payments that they took largely from Spanish-speaking women who were coming to Cayman to work in local bars. One officer is accused of making the arrangements with a civilian defendant, who was alleged to have been the main organiser on the outside who found the potential candidates.

In each case identified by the crown the women needed help to pass this test because they could not speak English. But without the test they would not be able to secure the work permits needed to take up work in several George Town bars.

The internal officer who has been accused of being the liaison was not qualified to administer the tests himself, and the crown claims he conspired with some of his more senior colleagues to have them inappropriately assist in passing the non-English speakers in return for a substantial cut of the $600 bribes.

In each case, despite messages that appear to relate to the tests and the cash being paid for their help, the defendants have claimed that they were exchanging money for other reasons, from commissions on apartments to sharing of gambling winnings.

The crown’s evidence is largely based on the messages sent between the various parties as well as testimony from one woman who has pleaded guilty to arranging for at least four women, who she said were her cousins from the Dominican Republic, to pay the bribes to get them through the test via one of the defendants.

As a result of a number of legal issues, the defendants cannot be named. The case is expected to continue next week.