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Fake inspectors exposed in Indian port
13 January 2006
An affiliate has apprehended two men posing as ITF representatives during a flag of convenience week of action in India in December 2005.
According to a report from the Calcutta Port Shramik Union (CPSU) on 20 December, the men, F Rahaman, 57, and N Alam, 40, were detained by the police authorities on 7 December. They were found by the union on board the MV Gold Friday (PAN), berthed in Haldia Port in Calcutta, impersonating an ITF inspector and an associate. It is alleged they were extorting money from the ship’s captain.
The union immediately reported the matter to the port authority and security personnel, as well as to the ITF’s regional office in Delhi. The men were then put into police custody, where it is believed forged documents were found in their possession.
Chinmoy Roy, a genuine ITF inspector for the CPSU, based in Calcutta commented: “These imposters are disgracing the name of the ITF by extorting money from the captains of various vessels. Now I believe that this must be the end of the problem of fake inspectors in our ports.”
Fabrizio Barcelona, of the ITF’s Actions Unit said: “The problem of fake inspectors has been an ongoing one in India since the inspectorate was set up seven years ago and the ITF’s Delhi Office has been tackling the issue. We hope that this outcome will help to raise awareness of the issue so that we can stamp out the problem.”
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