PM Speaks on Brewing Immigration Scandal

Prime Minister John Briceño

A scandal is brewing at the Immigration Department where an investigation has been launched into the creation of fake receipts for the purchase of new passports.  News Five understands that several public officers are suspected for their participation in the scheme.  It is not clear how much money the employees were able to siphon from government’s coffers when they carried out this fraudulent processing.  Earlier today, Prime Minister John Briceño, whose official responsibilities were recently expanded to include immigration, spoke with reporters regarding the developing situation.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The point is that as soon as the ministry was aware of it they acted. Now I can’t go into any details because it is still under investigation. But I could assure you that any wrong doing that has been done and if they get any evidence they are going to act on it immediately. What I can add to it is that this individual has been removed from this post for thirty days while the investigation is going on.”

Paul Lopez

“Does it come as a shock to you and this somewhat of a black-eye for a ministry that you have been trying to get under tight control?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think I would want to look at it slightly different than being a black eye. The ministry is not going to tolerate that kind of behavior from our officers and that whenever it comes to our attention we are going to act. Remember it is human nature we are dealing with here. As much as we put the proper processes in place, people that want to do something wrong they are going to try to be as creative as possible as they can to be, in this instance I believe to defraud the government in this case at the Ministry of Immigration.”