The Home Affairs Ministry is investigating how a child connected to the Grace Road Church managed to acquire a passport just before a potential inquiry into allegations of human rights abuses involving the child’s mother. Acting Home Affairs Minister Filimoni Vosarogo has confirmed that the Fiji Police Force’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) will conduct the inquiry, as the credibility of the Immigration Department is now under scrutiny.
Mr. Vosarogo emphasized that the investigation will focus on whether the child was legitimately entitled to a Fijian passport, given the timing of the acquisition in relation to a planned flight that may have been intended to evade the investigation concerning the mother. He pointed out that while children born in Fiji are typically entitled to citizenship, there are specific exceptions that could apply in this case.
To ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation, the Director of Immigration and the Manager of Passports have been relieved of their duties, and temporary appointments have been made to keep operations running smoothly. The CID has already begun taking statements and narrowing the investigation’s focus. Mr. Vosarogo anticipates that the findings will be compiled into a report by the end of next week for submission.
Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew confirmed that the CID is actively gathering information based on the mother’s report, which includes details on the passport’s issuance.
This situation underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of governmental procedures, particularly regarding sensitive matters like immigration. The swift action taken by the authorities reflects a commitment to transparency and accountability, which is vital for public trust. As investigations unfold, there is hope that they will lead to improvements in the processes and policies, ensuring that similar issues do not occur in the future.
Summary: The Fiji Home Affairs Ministry is investigating how a Grace Road Church member’s child obtained a passport, potentially to evade scrutiny related to human rights allegations against the mother. The inquiry by the Criminal Investigations Department focuses on the legitimacy of the passport issuance, with leadership changes made within the Immigration Department to ensure an impartial investigation. Findings are expected within a week.
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