Official detained in possession of 78 passport applications – Maputo

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Official detained in possession of 78 passport applications – Maputo

11:47 CAT | 27 Oct 2017

File photo / SENAMI's spokesperson Cira Fernandes

An official of the National Immigration Service (SENAMI) as yet unnamed has been detained by agents of the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) in possession of 78 passport applications.

According to SENAMI spokeswoman Cira Fernandes, the official was caught on a motorcycle taxi with 78 applications, 31 passport receipts, 44 identity cards, an emergency certificate and 2,500 meticais in cash.

“The employee was on a motorcycle taxi heading towards the centre for the production of migratory documents in downtown Maputo. Presumably, this was for the production of passports. Of the 78 requests, 10 were in her possession and the remaining 68 in the hands of the driver of ‘txopela’, Fernandes revealed.

This would constitute parallel production of documents, since SENAMI has appropriate procedures for processing them, which are registered and sent by accredited means or persons.

Cira said that, in addition to the ongoing disciplinary proceedings against the official, the employee and the txopela driver will be criminally liable for the case. Both were initially detained at the 12th Police Station in Maputo, but are currently awaiting trial on bail.

Cira Fernandes also said yesterday that, from January to September of the current year, SENAMI refused admission to 1,863 foreign nationals, compared to 2,149 in the same period of the previous year, representing a reduction of 13 percent.

According to the spokeswoman, 868 refusals were due to false visas, 492 for lack of visas and clarity as to the reason for coming to the country and 230 because they did not have a travel document.

The breakdown by nationality was 626 Ethiopians (34 per cent), 236 Bengalis (13 per cent) and 167 Malawians, 9 per cent, found at the crossing point at Mavalane International Airport in Maputo ( 75 percent), at Pemba Airport, Cabo Delgado (13 percent) and at Nampula Airport (four percent), she added.

The barring of the 868 foreign nationals represents a loss to the Mozambican state in terms of revenue of about US$43,400 (2,622,000 meticais at current exchange rates).

Source: Diário de Moçambique