GUERNSEY police have questioned a 48-year-old woman over allegations that she cheated foreign nationals out of money.
The woman, understood to be a local resident, was allegedly working out of a London hotel and bringing workers to the UK with the promise of work permits and visas enabling them to stay in the country.
It is claimed that she would charge foreigners a visa fee of up to £6,000 and then do little or no work on their behalf.
Guernsey Police confirmed this morning that an investigation was under way by the fraud department and that a 48-year-old local woman was helping the department with enquiries regarding an offence of obtaining money by deception.
They were unable to confirm off-island reports that she had been arrested and released on bail. Officers did say, however, that no one has been charged locally.
The woman, who has not been named, was allegedly operating from Kensington Gardens Hotel using mail drops in London’s Harley Street and Cavendish Square.
It is also alleged that she used a post office box in Guernsey.
National reports suggest that the inquiry is also being conducted in the UK.
The unproven allegations centre on complaints from individuals who claim they provided money in return for work permits and visas enabling them to find employment in the UK, particularly in nursing.
However, if the documents were not provided then those affected would be deported, while anyone living abroad could not enter the UK to pursue any legal action for allegedly not receiving promised documents.
Article posted on 28th November, 2008 - 2.30pm
One Article Comment
Hot on the heals of a Tory MP being arrested for receiving info that the British Govts Immigration Dept have rubber stamped 15,000 illegal immigrants to work in ’security’ positions I don’t suppose the Guernsey Police and Press have got the wrong end of the stick here?
2 years ago over 40 companies involved in immigration services joined to lodge complaints about the Immigration Regulators mis-management and abuse of powers to harrang, bully and scare legitimate businesses.
The industry is still awaiting the Home Office review 2 years on while nothing has changed to address the rotten regulation of the industry which has brought legitimate hardworking businesses to their knees.
‘Strangely’ the Guernsey Press fails to report it is that same British Govt regulator that is pushing these allegtaions in an attempt to smeer one of those legitimate businesses operating from Guernsey.
Let’s hope the truth is revealed in both matters and heads roll at the British Govts rotten immigration Department instead of, as the past 2 years, swept under the carpet and allowed its harrasment and illegal activities using a British Govt stamp of approval.
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