The Tribune

THE official who accused Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell of pressuring Foreign Affairs staff to grant visas to 30 unqualified foreigners was herself under investigation by police, according to documents filed in court yesterday. A May 8, 2007, report by the police force's Central Intelligence Bureau (CIB) noted that senior Foreign Affairs officer Dorothea Lefleur was suspected of selling entry visas to foreigners for $1,500 each. Mr Mitchell filed this document with the Supreme Court along with his own sworn affidavit as part of his defamation suit against Mrs Lefleur - who according to a document uncovered by Wikileaks, told the US Embassy Mr Mitchell attempted to commit visa fraud while serving as Foreign Affairs Minister. In the report, police said they were told Mrs Lefleur and several other ministry employees had been selling visas to Haitian nationals and other foreigners since at least 2005. It said an undercover operation was launched to gather evidence to either disprove or substantiate the allegations. The report said: "It is submitted that there are strong reasons to conclude that the above employees of the Visa Section are involved in corrupt and unethical practices at the said ministry." It claimed Mrs Lefleur and a male employee processed a significant number of visas for Haitian nationals, which were believed to be instrumental in transporting passports out of Haiti. The report said several persons were identified as "generals" of Mrs Lefleur, "and either own or are associated with a number of Haitian vessels that act as couriers for Haitian passports out of Haiti to be processed by the Foreign Affairs/Immigration Office," the report said. Seven Haitian vessels: The Miss Rose Mica, Head Pen and Family, Love my Wife, Wilrid, Natacha, Lovetha and Miss Florida, were named. "They would collect documents from Haitian nationals living in the Bahamas and Haiti who require visa renewals and facilitate them for a fee," the report said. Two other suspects were thought to have submitted hundreds of visa applications to Foreign Affairs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, returning on Wednesdays and Thursdays to collect the updated passports. The report said CIB also extended its investigations to monitor flights travelling to and from Haiti. It said: "Flights operating out of Haiti are facilitated by Western Air, Pineapple Air, or Southern Airlines. Several persons and operators associated with these companies are known for their involvement in the facilitation of alien smuggling and drug trafficking." CIB also mentioned the arrival of 34 Haitian nationals on February 4, 2007, each of whom carried Bahamas entry visas. Four of the visas were issued by the Bahamas Embassy in Haiti and 30 by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the report said. After they were cleared by immigration, problems with the Haitian's documents were noticed. "The most significant was that two Haitian passports bore the same number, but nonetheless, were issued with Bahamian visas in Nassau on the same date. "An examination of the documents clearly indicate that there is likely unethical and corrupt practices being undertaken by the mentioned agency in dealing with these Haitian nationals and flights coming out of Haiti," the report said. It went on to call for the reassignment of Mrs Lefleur and suggest that all other named employees be removed from the department immediately. CIB recommended a formal rotation system to prevent employees being in sensitive areas at extensive times, and a limitation on application submissions. At a press conference yesterday where he released the documents, Mr Mitchell said Mrs Lefleur's earlier allegations against him were nothing but an election ploy set up by the FNM in an attempt to defame his character. He challenged her to prove otherwise. "She must be compelled to say what she knows and produce the evidence of any malfeasance on the part of this former minister," Mr Mitchell said. "Do not sit on it. If you have information, let the chips fall where they may." Several calls were made to Mrs Lefleur yesterday. She was eventually reached, but the connection was lost before she could be asked to comment.