Michael T Sestak --- Left
I. M. Sleestak --- Right
Please do not confuse the two images, but there does seem to be a family resemblance.
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| Southeast Asia |
| The Hits Keep on Coming - US State Department Corruption |
| 2013-05-27 |
| Foreign Service officer Michael T Sestak was charged by the US government with selling non-resident visas (green cards), mostly for between $50,000 and $70,000 - roughly 1.5 million to 2.1 million baht. He has been held without bail for more than a week as a "serious flight risk" defendant. Mr Sestak faces charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and bribery. The number of visas allegedly sold by Mr Sestak, 42, is not yet known. But a 28-page affidavit filed by the US government against him alleges he "received several million dollars in bribes" from Vietnamese seeking to emigrate to the United States. The affidavit alleged: "He ultimately moved the money out of Vietnam by using money launderers through offshore banks, primarily based in China, to a bank account in Thailand that he opened in May 2012. He then used the money to purchase real estate in Phuket and Bangkok, Thailand." Presumably, Mr Sestak bought condominiums, although the affidavit did not reveal that detail. |
| Posted by:Lone Ranger |
| #10 You're probably right. My general point still stands: I wouldn't trust their government to be honest or just, and since it runs their economy, more or less, I wouldn't expect that to be honest or just either. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-05-27 20:10 |
| #9 "Y'all _do_ realize that the sorts of people in VN who can pay $ 50-70K for a visa are likely members of the aristocracy Party of the Vanguard ..." In my experience, this is NOT the case. The folks paying the $50K are likely taking loans from family members to pay the fixer or being trafficked/smuggled. The party big wigs, while they may have the $$$, also likely need approval of the GOV to even apply for a visa let alone actually use it to leave the country. Usually applies to the family also. Loyalty to the party and all that ya know. |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2013-05-27 17:42 |
| #8 They're _happy_ with a system where they can emigrate if they want to but the serfs are fucked. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-05-27 16:35 |
| #7 To both Goober and Brilliant Pebbles: Y'all _do_ realize that the sorts of people in VN who can pay $ 50-70K for a visa are likely members of the |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-05-27 16:34 |
| #6 Sestak would have been one of the top few deputies of Mr. Le, the Consular General in HCMC. Le should be fired for lousy oversight. The thousands of Visas granted by this guy need to be re-examined; thousands more denials re-examined; and the moneys paid to Sestak should be returned to the cheated applicants. Further, the VN government should prosecute this 'director of a multinational company' along with his minions and toss them in jail to break rocks and coconuts for 30 years. |
| Posted by: Goober Snearong3716 2013-05-27 16:10 |
| #5 Hmm, wonder if he's any relation to Joe Sestak? |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2013-05-27 15:27 |
| #4 Selling Visa's is common. Its usually a low level guy. Our entire immigration program is a train wreck from policy on down to implementation. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2013-05-27 12:04 |
| #3 Here's a clue for governments.... Immigration is worth a lot of money. Auction the right to live and the right to work, and give it out as a dividend. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2013-05-27 11:48 |
| #2 Corruption and intimidation seem to be the government themes recently. I wonder what our founding fathers would have said about large and powerful central governments.... |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2013-05-27 09:47 |
| #1 Putting a face to a name: Michael T Sestak --- Left I. M. Sleestak --- Right Please do not confuse the two images, but there does seem to be a family resemblance. |
| Posted by: One Eyed Clunk8833 2013-05-27 09:38 |