Fijian visa racket busted

published by Asianpost on Thu, 04/03/2008 - 14:40

Fiji police have stopped a major immigration scam involving fake New Zealand and Australian visas. Dozens of people desperate to leave the troubled island nation have lost tens of thousands of dollars in a scheme to get them into New Zealand and Australia — and police fear it is just the tip of the iceberg.

Police in Fiji have charged a man Alvin Praveen Singh, 26, from Suva, with nine counts of obtaining money by false pretences and 11 counts of forgery.

Police investigating the alleged visa scam say it is possible people sought out the documents because of travel bans which prevent some in Fiji from entering Australia. The Australian and New Zealand governments ban entry into their countries from Fijians linked to the military government, which seized power in a bloodless coup in 2006.

So far nine fake visas had been located, including those held by a family of four who were caught at Nadi Airport trying to leave the country with passports containing fake New Zealand visas last week. Police said 30 passports were allegedly found at the Suva home of the suspect, including five which allegedly contained fake Australian visas.

Singh is accused of selling the visas for between $F2,000 and $F40,000 (C$27,245).
A Fijian man who bought the visas said his family struggle to survive, sharing one small bedroom, but it has not stopped them having big dreams for their children. “At the moment in Fiji less pay, that’s the problem, we work hard, less pay, that’s why I want to go to New Zealand,” scam victim Arvin Chand told ONE News.

When the family heard of someone who could arrange it quickly for them, they jumped at the chance. The Chands borrowed $5,000 from friends and family and police say they are not alone.