FIRCA official charged

A 28 year old Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority officer, who resides in Narere, has been charged with 7 counts of facilitating the stay of an unauthorized migrant and obtaining material benefits contrary to the Immigration Act.

Police PRO Atunaisa Sokomuri said police and immigration officials have been working on the case for sometime before the officer was charged yesterday and he is expected to appear in court later today.

Meanwhile, seven people have been suspended from the Customs and Immigration Department pending investigation into the alleged human trafficking scam.

13 Indian nationals are being detained at the Korovou prison and two local businessmen have been charged in relation to the alleged human trafficking scam uncovered earlier this month.

Immigration is sorting out the paperwork to deport the Indian nationals.