Man accused of passport fraud

Press, 26 February 1977, Page 2

Man accused of passport fraud

PA Auckland An Onehunga man, Jai Ram, told two newly-arrived Fijians that he could extend their entry permits for three months through a friendly immigration officer, the Magistrate’s Court in Auckland heard yesterday. It was alleged that Ram, aged 35, a leading hand, took $lOO from each man, and later altered their passports to extend the temporary permits from one month to four months. Ram, who faced four charges of forgery and two of false pretences, appeared before Justices of the Peace for depositions. The police alleged that the two Fijian Indians arrived in New Zealand on February 2, 1976, on a one-month holiday permit. They had been given Ram’s address in Fiji, and met him in Onehunga. Ram told them he knew a senior immigration officer who would extend their permits to four months, and that this would cost each man $lOO. Ram was given $2OO in travellers’ cheques, and the passports. The complainants went to Petone, where thev later received the altered passports. In a covering letter, Ram explained he had had to alter them himself. The police also alleged that, when interviewed Ram asserted that he had found the passports in his letterbox and forwarded them to Petone, but had not altered them.

The police will call 11 witnesses in the case, which is continuing.