Chinese immigrant helped students get false visas

A third Chinese immigrant has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he helped students receive fraudulent visas from a former Garda National Immigration Bureau employee in 2002.

He told prosecuting counsel, Mr Thomas O’Connell SC, he met the accused twice outside the Bureau and gave him a bottle of wine and a meal voucher for two as a "thank you" for helping to get the visas.

John Kennedy (aged 69), Willow Crest, Trees Avenue, Mount Merrion, County Dublin has pleaded not (NOT) guilty to six counts of receiving bribes of €500 as well as a bottle of wine and a meal voucher between December 2002 and January 2003 in return for issuing fraudulent visas.

Mr Hao Zirong told Mr O’Connell (with Mr Remy Farrell BL), he brought "four or five" Chinese students to Mr Kennedy who was able to renew their visas.

Mr Hao said he acted as an agent for the now closed GM English Language College and would receive commission for referring students with poor attendance rates at other colleges. He said GM would then issue a letter of attendance which the students would use to obtain a visa from Mr Kennedy.

The trial continues before Judge Desmond Hogan with a jury of six men and six women.