Bahamas Police Probing Passport Fraud Cases

The Bahamas has referred 98 suspected passport fraud cases to the police as part of efforts to crack down on irregularities. Chief Passport Officer Nicholas Symonette says internal reviews also flagged possible staff involvement in some cases, which were referred for further action. He says the police have since identified four additional suspects in separate matters. Mr Symonette's comments follow claims by Opposition Leader Michael Pintard that more than 250 fraudulent document cases were under investigation, raising concerns about potential misuse ahead of the general election, but Mr Symonette says the list cited by the Opposition Leader was an earlier subset from the Passport Office and he was unaware of the higher figure. He explained that the cases were compiled through internal audits and submitted to the Royal Bahamas Police Force with supporting documentation, and are updated as new findings emerge.