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03/01/2006
Home Office probe into ‘sex-for-visas’ report
The Home Office is to investigate newspaper claims that male immigration officials granted visas to foreign women in exchange for sex.
The claims were made a former employee who worked at an immigration centre in Croydon.
In an interview with the ‘Sun’ newspaper, 23-year-old Anthony Pamnani alleged that applicants who were considered good-looking were seen by officials straightaway and claimed that they were given leave to stay in the UK in return for sex with the officials.
Mr Pamnani also claimed that photographs of female applicants who were considered to be ugly were pinned up on walls at the centre.
The former administration officer, who said that he had quit his job after four years because his complaints about corruption had been ignored, also accused immigration staff of failing to make proper security checks.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said that the allegations were “serious” and would be fully investigated. Mr McNulty said that he had every confidence that immigration staff were carrying out their jobs with “professionalism and integrity”. However, he added: “Until the outcome of that investigation is known, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further, but clearly I will not condone this type of behaviour amongst staff.”
(KMcA)
The claims were made a former employee who worked at an immigration centre in Croydon.
In an interview with the ‘Sun’ newspaper, 23-year-old Anthony Pamnani alleged that applicants who were considered good-looking were seen by officials straightaway and claimed that they were given leave to stay in the UK in return for sex with the officials.
Mr Pamnani also claimed that photographs of female applicants who were considered to be ugly were pinned up on walls at the centre.
The former administration officer, who said that he had quit his job after four years because his complaints about corruption had been ignored, also accused immigration staff of failing to make proper security checks.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said that the allegations were “serious” and would be fully investigated. Mr McNulty said that he had every confidence that immigration staff were carrying out their jobs with “professionalism and integrity”. However, he added: “Until the outcome of that investigation is known, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further, but clearly I will not condone this type of behaviour amongst staff.”
(KMcA)
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Inquiry rejects 'sex for visas' claims
A Home Office inquiry has found that there was no evidence of a "sex for visas' scam being operated among immigration staff. However, the inquiry did find that immigration staff had engaged in "unprofessional behaviour" towards applicants.
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