Two to be sentenced in March for roles in visa scam
A former Department of Justice employee and a Chinese national will be sentenced in March for their role in a scam where visa extensions were issued to immigrant students in return for bribes.
Dara Revins (aged 28) worked in the Garda Immigration Bureau issuing visas to Chinese students who had come to Ireland to study English. His co-accused, Bin Yang (aged 26), refered students who didn’t met the conditions for a visa extension to Revins.
Revins, of Windmill Road, Crumlin, but originally from Tipperary, would give them the extension and was paid up to €1,500 by Yang for each student. The students, all Chinese nationals, would pay Yang up to €4,000 for putting them in touch with Revins.
Detective Sergeant Maura Walsh told Mr Dominic McGinn BL, prosecuting, that Yang of Belton Park Gardens, Donnycarney, put a advertisement in a Chinese community newspaper offering to "help do any problems with visas".
Det. Sgt Walsh explained that immigrant students require a class attendance rate of over 85% to qualify for a visa extension but many could not met this because they had to take on jobs. Instead they would contact Yang who would get Revins to issue an extension.
Det. Sgt Walsh said it was a "highly lucrative" scam with both men making up to €20,000 in total. She said Revins was caught when officials became suspicious of his work and carried out an examination of his bank account.
Gardaí searched his home on June 17, 2005 and found two Chinese passports which Revins later admitted he was going to stamp in return for bribes. After his arrest he admitted several cases in interview where he had taken bribes in return for visas. Yang was arrested on the same day and also admitted his part.
Revins pleaded guilty to three counts of accepting bribes in return for showing favour to others between December 1, 2004 and June 17, 2005. Yang pleaded guilty to five charges of bribing Revins between the same dates.
Det. Sgt Walsh agreed with Mr Bernard Condon BL, defending Revins, that he was "not the sharpest person" and was easily led. She said he had been introduced to Yang through his housemate, but that he had not been prosecuted.
Mr Condon said his client had serious problems with alcohol and came from a good family in Tipperary. He said he had lived and worked in New Zealand after the incident but had come back to Ireland voluntarily to face the charges, Both he and Yang have no previous convictions.
Det. Sgt Walsh further agreed with Mr Remy Farrell BL, defending Yang, that he will most likely be deported back to China when this case is finished. She said the Chinese community has a different relationship with corruption than Irish people and some assume "the wheels have to be greased".
Judge Katherine Delahunt adjourned the case until March when she will hear a full plea on behalf of the men and finalise their sentence.
