AN immigration officer under the ministry of home affairs has been accused of processing visas for foreign nationals from home.
She is accused of using her personal laptop and ministerial equipment as police continue investigations into the arrest of more than 150 foreign nationals linked to alleged illegal activities.
Highly-placed sources allege that the assistant immigration officer was instrumental in facilitating the entry of foreign nationals into the country by processing visa documents outside official government premises.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the officer allegedly carried out the activities while working from home where she used her personal laptop together with ministerial gadgets to process visas and permits.
The officer will not be mentioned as no arrest has been made yet.
The matter reportedly came to light during investigations following the arrest of foreign nationals who had been staying at The Castle Hotel in Mbabane.
Sources revealed that shortly after the first group of 85 foreign nationals was arrested at the hotel, the immigration officer allegedly processed four visa tickets for some of the individuals who had already been apprehended by the police.
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It is alleged that at the time she authorised the documents, she was not aware that the foreign nationals had already been arrested.
Police investigations later discovered that the four visa tickets had been authorised using the immigration officer’s password, raising suspicion about her involvement in the matter.
Investigators reportedly traced the authorisation of the documents through the officer’s login credentials, prompting further scrutiny from law enforcement.
Sources stated that once police established that the visa documents had been approved using the officer’s password, she was summoned to the Mbabane Police Station for questioning. However, she was later released as investigations continue.
“Investigations are ongoing and she was called in to assist the police with information relating to the authorisation of the visas,” said a source close to the investigation.
Police are also said to have discovered certain ministerial documents and other exhibits in the officer’s possession, which are now part of the ongoing probe.
According to sources, the discovery was made during a raid in which officers were evacuating and apprehending foreign nationals from various premises linked to the case.
It is alleged that during the operation the officer received a call from a senior official within the ministry who questioned her about the processing of visa and permit documents.
Sources claim that the officer was allegedly processing visa and permit tickets for foreign nationals who had already been arrested by the police.
Investigators suspect that the alleged processing of the documents may have been an attempt to conceal evidence or create the impression that the individuals were legally in the country.
However, authorities have emphasised that the matter remains under investigation and no conclusions have yet been reached.
