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Former driver for FSM Embassy charged with passport conspiracy

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services): March 17, 2006 - The Department of Foreign Affairs has indicated that a former driver for the Federated States of Micronesia Embassy in Washington DC, has been arrested for passport conspiracy.

According to the Department, the former driver, a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines, was arrested in the United States and charged with Conspiracy to Import Illegal Aliens into the U.S.

The charge is based on an incident at the Newark International Airport on January 5 2006, where four citizens of the Philippines attempted to enter the U.S. presenting "altered" FSM passports.

During questioning, the individuals stated that they had obtained the altered FSM passports from someone at the FSM Embassy in Washington, whom they later identified through photographs as the former driver for the Embassy.

The FSM Embassies and Consulate Offices do not issue or renew any FSM passports.

The FSM Government has pledged its full support of the investigation currently underway by the US Department of Homeland Security.