Illegal immigration probe drags on in NSW

26 Oct 2012, 7:21 pm   -   Source: AAP

A NSW police officer charged with bringing illegal immigrants to Australia remains the target of a five-year investigation.

A five-year investigation into a NSW police officer charged with illegally bringing people into Australia continues to drag on after two of his alleged accomplices failed to appear in court and haven't been found.

The Police Integrity Commission (PIC) launched Operation Deakin in late 2007 after the officer, Tan Thanh Ngyuen, departed Australia declaring to customs officials he was carrying a large amount of cash.

Details of the operation emerged on Friday, when the PIC released its latest annual report.

The PIC analysed a large number of financial transactions to determine if the officer was involved in fraud, money laundering or illegal immigration activity.

Ngyuen was found to have declared large amounts of cash on a number of occasions when departing Australia.

Dollar amounts were not disclosed in the PIC report.

A series of search warrants was executed in New South Wales and Victoria in 2008. The PIC then forwarded briefs of evidence to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in Victoria.

Ngyuen and two others were charged with 13 offences relating to immigration matters.

He has been suspended, but a NSW Police spokesman confirmed on Friday he remained an officer.

Two associates of his - a man named in the PIC report as Hiep Hoa Luu and a woman, Thi My Luu - were also charged.

The charges involve travel to and from Vietnam and allegedly obtaining a false Australian passport and travel documents.

Ngyuen is also charged with dishonestly influencing a customs officer and bringing non-citizens into Australia or harbouring illegal entrants.

He made his first court appearance in Melbourne Magistrates Court in June.

His alleged associates failed to appear on the same day, prompting bench warrants to be issued for their arrests.

A Victorian Courts spokeswoman told AAP that the warrants remained outstanding.

Ngyuen's matter is scheduled for hearing on March 19 next year, a courts spokeswoman said.

Further charges against him are being considered, the PIC stated in its report.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube