Two plead guilty to visa bribe charges

AAP

Two more men charged with bribery offences have pleaded guilty in court following a West Australian corruption hearing into the manipulation of English-language competency tests.

Eight men faced bribery charges with six so far pleading guilty.

The Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) charged the men over allegations that English test scores were falsified at Curtin University to help international students obtain visas and residency in Australia.
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Applicants for permanent residency and work or student visas must prove their competence under the International English Testing System (IELTS), which is relied upon by the Department of Immigration.

The offences are alleged to have occurred over 12 months from June 2009.

Rikenkumar Jentilal Vaishnani and Vishal Jitendrakumar Pandya pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Vaishnani faced three charges while Pandya faced five charges.

Both will be sentenced in the Perth District Court on June 10.

Navin Ramji Bhudiya had his case adjourned until May 25 while Kok Keith Low, who worked at Curtin University's language centre, will reappear in court on Friday.

Bhudiya faces three charges while Low faces 14 bribery charges as well as one charge of being a public officer obtaining or seeking a bribe.

Abdul Kader, Vimal Vinodray Majithiya, Pritesh Chetan Shah and Hainder Jit pleaded guilty to their bribery charges in the Perth Magistrates Court last month.

Kader and Shah each faced 14 charges of bribery, while Majithiya and Jit faced two charges.

Source:http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/two-plead-guilty-to-visa-bribe-charges-20110511-1eib6.html