KOROR (Palau Horizon) — An immigration officer allegedly accepted a bribe to allow three Chinese to depart Palau and enter the United States without proper documentation.
Criminal charges are being prepared against Immigration Officer Hosei Ignacio, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
Charges of bribery will be filed against Cheng Zhong Ping, who allegedly offered an undetermined amount of cash and a wristwatch to Ignacio.
Based on the amended affidavit of probable cause executed by Police Officer Willie Mays Towai, the Bureau of Immigration received a faxed message from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services, saying that three nationals of the People’s Republic of China entered Guam without proper travel documents.
The suspects were identified as Feng Li, Fen Qin Caen and Xiu Fung Lin.
Documents showed that Cheng purchased the tickets for the three at West Travel Agency on April 2.
During the probe, it was learned that Immigration Officer Clare Techitong was supposed to work that night but Ignacio offered to take her shift.
It was also discovered that it was Ignacio who processed the papers for the three Chinese.
During questioning, Cheng at first denied his involvement in the matter, but he later admitted that he befriended the three Chinese who arrived from Hong Kong last March 29. He said the three asked for his help and later provided him with Singapore passports and $5,000 in cash.
