Professor arrested in Cape Verde for fraud and forging documents for Portuguese visas
The Cape Verdean Judicial Police arrested a 49-year-old teacher on suspicion of fraud, falsifying documents and aiding illegal immigration to Portugal. The arrest took place in Tarrafal, after investigations began in Praia, and the suspect, who has a criminal record, was placed in pre-trial detention. The PJ seized materials used in the forgery, in a case that exposes illegal visa facilitation networks, the target of wider investigations in the country.
The Cape Verdean Judicial Police (PJ) announced on Saturday the pre-trial detention of a 49-year-old teacher suspected of crimes of fraud, aiding illegal emigration to Portugal and falsifying documents. The arrest took place on Wednesday in Tarrafal, in the north of the island of Santiago, following an investigation that began in the capital, Praia. On Friday, the court ordered the suspect's pre-trial detention.
According to the PJ, the man is accused of "falsifying fraudulent documents" for citizens who wanted to obtain long-term visas for Portugal. During the operation, documents, receipts and equipment were seized, including stamps and seals from public and private institutions used in the criminal activity. The detainee already had a record for similar crimes of forgery.
The case reflects a wider problem in the archipelago. Speaking to the Lusa news agency last year, the Attorney General of the Republic, Luís Landim, revealed that investigations into illegal visa facilitation networks for Portugal are underway, driven by complaints. The high demand for visas has attracted intermediaries who charge for services that are free at public counters. One of the lines of investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office focuses on the hoarding of visa booking slots by companies that then resell these services at inflated prices.
