By BRIDGET CARTER
A Hamilton border and investigations officer who has spent nearly 15 years working for the Immigration Service has been accused of cheating overstayers out of several thousand dollars.
Manjit Singh, aged 35, appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday after being picked up from his home and arrested by police in the morning.
Detective Inspector Stu Allsopp-Smith said Singh had been accused of taking several thousand dollars from overstayers who thought they were handing money over for the Immigration Service cost recovery scheme.
The charges he faces includes two counts of theft, one charge of theft by failing to account and a third charge of theft by a person in a special relationship.
After appearing in court yesterday, he was remanded on bail until later this month.
Mr Allsopp-Smith said police and the Immigration Service began investigating Singh after receiving complaints last year from people who were leaving NZ and were being asked to contribute to their deportation and travel costs. But the amount of money Singh took allegedly differed from the amount going back to the Immigration Service.
Department of Labour chief executive Dr James Buwalda said there was no evidence to implicate other Immigration Service staff.
Investigations into Singh continue and anyone with information should call (09) 259-0756.
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