Dead man’s details used in fraud case

A judge said someone using a passport that had been fraudulently obtained was a breach of border security

- JASON EVANS Reporter

A MAN fraudulently applied for passport of someone who was dead, a court has heard.

Kristian Apeletey submitted a birth certificate in the name of John Regan to support his application, and when emailed by the authorities for further information signed his reply “John”.

When the fraud came to light, the 42-year-old said his mother had asked him to do it, and he said he believed Mr Regan to be his Ghanaian godfather who was living in America.

A judge at Swansea Crown Court said it was important for every country that its borders were kept secure, and he said someone using a passport that had been fraudulently obtained was a breach of that border security.

He added he was “sceptical” about the version of events put forward by the defendant.

Emily Bennett, prosecuting, told the court that in June 2008 the UK Passport Office issued a passport in the name of John Regan, a man who had been born in 1961.