The female civil servant who accused Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell of corruption was herself under investigation by police for visa fraud.
Senior Foreign Affairs officer Dorothea Lefleur, accused Mitchell of pressuring Foreign Affairs staff to grant visas to 30 unqualified foreigners.
Yet, a report by the police force’s Central Intelligence Bureau (CIB) from May, 2007, noted that Lefleur herself was suspected of selling entry visas to foreigners for $1,500 each.
Mr Mitchell, who denies the allegations is suing Mrs Lefleur for defamation.
The police document outlines an undercover operation that revealed that Lefleur and several other ministry employees had been selling visas to Haitian nationals and other foreigners since at least 2005.
“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,” the report stated.
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.”
Seven Haitian vessels were named: The Miss Rose Mica, Head Pen and Family, Love my Wife, Wilrid, Natacha, Lovetha and Miss Florida.
Police surmise that the crooked Foreign Affairs employees would collect documents from Haitian nationals living in the Bahamas and Haiti, who required visa renewals, and then facilitate them for a fee.
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.
CIB also monitored flights travelling to and from Haiti.
“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,” the report said.
During the investigation, police discovered problems with the Haitian’s documents.
“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.
Police, at the time, called for the reassignment of Mrs Lefleur and suggested that the other employees be removed from the department immediately.
Mrs. Lefleur is also the sister of Defence Force Lt-Commander Batchelette LaFleur, who went missing in 1996 whiloe fishing off Andros. Commander LaFleur had been indicted by the United States on drug charges and was facing extradition to the U.S.
It is suspected that LaFleur faked his drowning to escape extradition and is currently living in Haiti, helping to run a drug, gun and people smuggling operation with corrupt members of the Defence Force.
Mr Mitchell has publicly said that Mrs Lefleur’s allegations against him were an election ploy set up by the FNM. He challenged her to prove otherwise.
