Politics

Fake Indian journalists tried to enter Australia for Comm Games

Mar 29, 2018

The government is warning athletes at the Commonwealth Games not to overstay their visas. Source: Getty

The Commonwealth Games are just under a week away, but Australia’s Border Force is already working to stop dishonest people from entering the country.

The Courier Mail is reporting that nine Indian nationals have been detained at Brisbane International Airport after falsely trying to enter the country.

The group reportedly told officials they were journalists and were in Australia to cover the Games, but authorities have confirmed the claims are false.

Rakesh Kumar Sharma was charged over the incident with attempting to smuggle eight people into the country.

According to The Courier Mail, Sharma, 46, has already appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court charged with one count each of the aggravated people smuggling and creating false documents.

Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Bob Gee held a press conference on the matter on Friday afternoon and told media the group posed no threat to the Games.

“I can confirm that there was some sort of incident this morning at the airport,” Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Bob Gee said to media. “Can I say that I have talked with the Commonwealth Games lead and there is no threat to the Commonwealth Games. In fact, what you’ll see is this system works.”

Gee refused to elaborate on details of the investigation as it is ongoing, but said Australia was prepared for anyone trying to use the Games to enter the country under false pretences and try to claim asylum.

.@AusFedPolice investigating a potential breach of security at @BrisbaneAirport. Authorities say it's posing no threat to @GC2018. https://t.co/uKikX864yJ #7CommGames #7News pic.twitter.com/oYq3IHpiSF

— 7NEWS Brisbane (@7NewsBrisbane) March 29, 2018

“The nation and the state is well-prepared for any incident like that,” he said. “I can say this morning we went through, again, a full brief on those incidents. It’s a great relationship and partnership with all our Commonwealth partners and agents.”

The government has already issued a stern warning to all international visitors and athletes heading to the Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast next week, telling them to behave or risk being sent home. Speaking to Sky News, Minister for Home Affairs of Australia Peter Dutton said there were 40 or 50 people the government was particularly targeting with the warnings.

“The 40 or 50 people that we’re talking about need to recognise that Australia, almost like no other country in the world, has tough border protection policies and people need to abide by those laws,” Dutton said. “The people who come for the Commonwealth Games, whether they’re athletes, whether they’re part of the Commonwealth Games family, or whether they’re spectators, almost 100 per cent of those people will be doing the right thing and we will welcome them with open arms.”

After the 2000 Sydney Olympics, dozens of athletes were caught trying to overstay their visas. It was a similar problem in 2006 at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, with many participants in the games unlawfully staying in Australia and breaching their visa restrictions.

More than 6,000 people from 70 overseas countries are due to decent onto the Gold Coast over the coming days to participate in the Games. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk added that she wanted the event to go off without a hitch.

“We want these Games to be family-friendly and I hope that every athlete and every visitor coming here to the Commonwealth Games, will obey the laws of the land,” she said. This is a world-class event. The eyes of the world are going to be on the Gold Coast.”