Former immigration officer, accomplice changed over bribes
SFO charges man, woman over $26,500 in bribes for immigration help
By Suze Metherell
May 19 (BusinessDesk) - The Serious Fraud Office has charged a former border immigration officer and his accomplice with corruption and bribery over accepting $26,500 in bribes to help people with immigration.
Meng Yam Lim, also known as Peter Lim, appeared before the Auckland District Court today, charged with four counts of corruption and bribery, while Kooi Leng Pan has been charged with four counts as party to the same offences, the white collar crime fighter said in a statement. The SFO alleges that between February and April 2013, Lim and Pan colluded to accept $26,500 from two people for the provision of immigration assistance.
Lim had worked as a border official based at Auckland International Airport since 2008, where he worked with visa and immigration officers to determine arriving passengers' entry into New Zealand. Pan had also worked at the airport, where she meet Lim.
Immigration New Zealand referred the matter to the SFO.
Lim and Pan were remanded without plea until their next appearance on June 9.
(BusinessDesk)