Immigration NZ confirms fraud in Samoa: Staff bribed to help Samoan nationals obtain visas
RNZ/Marika Khabazi
Immigration NZ (INZ) says immigration workers in Samoa helped an individual obtain visas fraudulently between 2014 and 2021.
INZ general manager of immigration investigations and compliance Steve Watson told RNZ Pacific that they were brought to New Zealand "with a whole lot of fraud going on back in Samoa that we've addressed".
The revelation follows this week's sentencing of a Samoan national for their role in aiding other Samoans to work in New Zealand illegally between 2016 and 2021.
They were a paid "associate" of the primary offender, who was sentenced back in April for running a service setting Samoans up with fake working visas.
The associate was sentenced to six months' home detention, while the primary offender was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and ordered to pay NZ$4000 in reparations.
RNZ reported at the time that the two individuals
employed Samoan nationals unlawfully
in New Zealand and supported others to breach their visa conditions.
INZ's acting general manager of immigration compliance & investigation Michael Carley said workers were lured to New Zealand under the offer to make money they can send to their families in Samoa.
"The individual would then either directly or indirectly, through extended family or friends, sponsor a worker's visitor visa and manage the process of applying for visas through Immigration New Zealand. Even paying for related visa fees and airfares."
Once in New Zealand, they were often employed for more than 40 hours a week and paid a daily rate of $100, below the adult minimum wage.
Immigration workers helped the offender obtain paperwork or win favourable treatment, in exchange for bribes, INZ's Steve Watson explained.
"Back in Samoa this person took advantage of a contact they had...and they were able to fraudulently obtain visas for these people," Watson said.
"It wasn't a significant amount [of visas] because we were quickly able to identify the gap, and we've made a number of changes to our security procedures in the office some time ago now, but it was quickly identified and these persons were arrested and charged."
When RNZ Pacific asked whether this was a case of corruption, Watson said it was.
"It was a case of internal fraud which we very quicky discovered, and the matter was resolved through an employment issue."
Watson said this was a one-off incident and the offenders are not tied to any wider networks.
"This is not very common, and we take this very very seriously when it comes to our attention," Watson said.
"The fact that it was able to be discovered is actually a sign that the immigration system and the compliance and investigations aspect of it is working."
He said no recognised seasonal employers were involved in this case.
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