Indian journalist on trial in Australia for smuggling-in 'fake' mediapersons
What's the story
An Indian journalist has been sent to custody in Australia for six weeks for allegedly smuggling a fake 'media contingent' in during the recent Commonwealth Games.
Rakesh Kumar Sharma, a newspaper reporter based in Chandigarh, was charged with smuggling in eight people by arranging forged documents for them and submitting false information to acquire visas.
Sharma faces imprisonment of upto 20 years.
Details
What did Sharma do?
Sharma and the eight others were detained by the Australian Border Force at the Brisbane Airport in March as their documents were found to be forged.
Investigations revealed Sharma had arranged fake media credentials for them, aged 20-37, who were holding temporary activity visas.
To get visas for them, he had submitted "false or forged" documents to authorities sometime between December'17 and March'18.
Case
Sharma faces a minimum punishment of five years' imprisonment
In another blow to Sharma's case, he will no more e represented by the private law firm Legal Guru, reportedly because he couldn't satisfy the terms of his retainer.
He will now be represented by Legal Aid.
The case has been adjourned to June 22. Till then, he has been remanded in custody.
If convicted, he will be imprisoned for at least five years.