28 June 2006

British Diplomat on trial for immigration scam

A married British diplomat fabricated a story that his Filipina girlfriend was a VIP in order to "fast-track" her visa and set up home with her in England, a court heard this week.

Upon returning to the UK after completing his posting in Manila, Sharad Ladva regularly stayed with his mistress during the week before returning to his wife and family for the weekends.

His lover was allegedly one of dozens of people that 45-year-old Ladva helped get into Britain despite false documents used in their applications.

London's Southwark Crown Court was told that the embassy official's dishonesty only came to light when two of his colleagues blew the whistle on him.

Ladva, of Warminster, Wiltshire, denies two counts of misconduct in a public office between 1 January and 30 November, 2002.

Jurors were told yesterday that the first person he helped was his then Filipina girlfriend, Ruth Espaldon. Her application was allegedly based on bogus paperwork, as were the others that followed.

The bank account that Ms Espaldon claimed was hers was the same as one quoted by subsequent applicants. The woman, who had been working for a cleaning company, later disappeared.

The trial continues.