A man who provided a relative with a fraudulent work permit has been convicted and sentenced to three months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of possessing forged documents.
The conviction of Aashish Thapa comes after Customs and Border Control Service intercepted a relative of his at Owen Roberts International Airport with a suspected fraudulent work permit in October 2024.
Following an investigation by Workforce Opportunities & Residency Cayman, better known as WORC, it was determined that Thapa was responsible for preparing and supplying the fraudulent documents. The matter was referred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, resulting in Thapa pleading guilty to five counts of possessing fraudulent documents.
The court, having heard of Customs and Border Control Service’s intention to remove Thapa, recommended that a deportation order be made following the completion of his sentence.
The conviction follows an in-depth Compass article that outlined how foreign nationals, particularly from India, Nepal and the Philippines, are coming to the Cayman Islands with work permits for jobs that do not exist. Since the publication of that article, WORC told the Compass that it was clamping down on fraudulent work permits and that 50 companies have been placed on an offenders register for breaching work permit policies and regulations.
Minister for Caymanian Employment & Immigration Michael Myles said, “The successful prosecution in this case sends a clear and unequivocal message: Fraudulent activity will not be tolerated in the Cayman Islands. Those who attempt to undermine our systems through deception will be investigated and prosecuted under the law. I commend WORC for their unwavering commitment to justice and integrity.”
WORC Director Jeremy Scott praised the work of the investigating officers. “Their meticulous work and collaboration with partner agencies was pivotal in ensuring that justice was served. I am proud of the dedication and integrity demonstrated by our team.”
The use or creation of forged documents is a criminal offence under section 76 of the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022 Revision) and sections 283A and 283B of the Penal Code (2024 Revision). Offences under this section of the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022 Revision) are punishable on summary conviction by a fine up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months.
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I dont understand why this seemingly is being responded to at this time. Fifteen to twenty years ago I had people approaching me as a gas station manager asking me to apply for work permits for relatives and friends. Not to give them a job but just to take out a temporary for them to get the person here to Cayman and they would in turn find them other employment after they arrived on island.