NZ Immigration Department in 'damage control mode'

16/05/2008 16:59:59

The Immigration Department in New Zealand is in damage control mode after a major scandal unfolded earlier this week.

Immigration officers have been accused of bribery and the head of the department has resigned in disgrace.

New Zealand correspondent Kerri Ritchie reports that Mary-Anne Thompson quit after it was revealed she helped three of relatives in Kiribati get into New Zealand.

She has also been accused of lying on her CV to get senior government jobs.

Ms Thompson had claimed to have obtained a PhD from the prestigious London School of Economics in Britain, but the university says it has no record of it.

Police are now investigating allegations that staff in the Pacific Division of the Immigration Service, set up by Ms Thompson, may have taken bribes.

Our correspondent says 19 people have been investigated for misconduct and nine have been sacked.

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