Three convicted in Cayman Islands' largest immigration corruption trial

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, CMC – The largest-ever corruption trial in the Cayman Islands ended on Thursday with the jury delivering three guilty verdicts.

The case of fraud, breach of trust and bribery involved a network of corruption among several individuals, most of whom were government officers who held senior roles within the then Immigration Department – now Customs and Border Control.

It’s reported that between August 2015 and June 2016 the defendants allegedly played varying roles in providing people with fraudulent passing grades to an Immigration Department English-language test. 

The exam was a mandatory requirement for people whose primary language is not English.

The initial indictment listed 32 charges against the defendants including conspiracy to commit breach of trust, conspiracy to commit fraud on the government, and failing to report the solicitation of an advantage or reward. 

The indictment was later reduced to six counts, which alleged the same wrongdoing, apart from the breach of trust charge.

Initially, all the defendants, except one, pleaded not guilty.

The matter first came to light in June 2016 when senior immigration officers became suspicious of how the English-language tests were being conducted. 

An investigation was launched, following which the matter was transferred to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.