By Ben Kerrigan-
A Home Office worker has shamefully been arrested for attempting to sell UK residency to an asylum seeker living in Northern Ireland.
The official, employed as an asylum “decision maker” in the north of England, purportedly contacted the asylum seeker- a former journalist in his country- and brazenly solicited £2,000 in return for expediting his refugee application.
The unnamed former journalist, recounted the chilling encounter, describing how the decision maker leveraged sensitive Home Office records to bolster his scheme.
Despite initial scepticism, he was alarmed to discover that the individual possessed detailed information from his application, leaving little doubt as to the authenticity of the encounter.
In a courageous act of defiance, he alerted his solicitor, setting in motion a chain of events that culminated in the arrest of the alleged perpetrator.
Lancashire Police confirmed the arrest of a man in his 30s on suspicion of misconduct in public office, money laundering, bribery, and computer misuse offenses. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities scrambling to ascertain the full extent of the malfeasance.
The revelation has cast a dark shadow across the already beleaguered process of adjudicating asylum claims. Immigration solicitor Sinead Marmion condemned the “egregious” actions of the decision maker, underscoring the need for robust safeguards to prevent similar abuses in the future.
The Home Office, meanwhile, has moved swiftly to address the allegations, suspending the implicated staff member pending the outcome of the investigation.
Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock has lambasted the Conservative government for its handling of the asylum system, calling for urgent measures to restore integrity and public trust.
Amid the turmoil, the asylum seeker has expressed relief at the confirmation of his refugee status, signalling a newfound sense of hope for the future.