On 5 September 2010 08:42, Bevinda Collaco <[email protected]> wrote:
NEWS
Mickky's cup runneth over. Now he's facing charges from the US on
immigration and money laundering rackets
http://www.targetgoa.com/newsd-Mickky-in-big-trouble-for-immigration-and-money-laundering-racket-in-US-1022
The Link led to the following article
Mickky in big trouble for immigration and money laundering racket in US
2010-09-05
It looks like Mickky may be getting even more trouble on his plate, this
time from the United States Bureau of Diplomatic Security. According to
a report in The Indian Express Sept 5, 2010, ...........
CRYIN' TIME AGAIN? Mickky under Indo-US investigation for immigration
and money laundering racket in the US
My comment to Bevinda Collaco
Dear Bevinda,
The above 'item' arrived into my InBox - from you .....hence this
response from me.
May I ask IF you (as in TargetGoa) are being intentionally or
negligently dishonest?
What do you mean by "Mickky in big trouble for immigration and money
laundering racket in US"?
Do you believe (unlike some lawyers in Goa) that until a person is tried
and found guilty of a crime, a word, i.e. allegedly, should precede
whatever the person is accused of?
And, if you were really a fair news-person, as opposed to a biased
patracar, do you believe that you should have also directed attention to
the following (attached) denial from Mr. Pacheco?
Allow me to say this:
a: I strongly believe that a person is Innocent unless he is found
guilty by a court of law (and the verdict is not overturned). Do you?
b: If the person - any person - is guilty, you are free to slam that
person. I will join you in that venture..
Additionally,
c: Is that a photograph from "file'? I so, why is it placed along this
story without a 'rider'?
d: Let us all beware of sleeping (figuratively of course) with dogs. We
just might catch fleas. Some might even bite us - just because they feel
they can bite.
jc
Disclosure: I do not know Micky - nor do I ever want to know him. I have
the greatest of distrust of/for crooked Goa politicians, negligent
patracars and 'matlabi' Goa lawyers. All three sets of people are
disgusting - especially as they use the power vested in them to destroy
the lives of selective people.
And now .....whether True or False ....here is another version of / side
to that story. I believe it was on-line before you sent out those Headlines:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Pacheco-denies-money-laundering-charges/articleshow/6499445.cms
Pacheco denies money laundering charges
PTI, Sep 5, 2010, 03.24pm IST
PANAJI: Goa's former Tourism Minister Fransisco Mickey Pacheco on Sunday
stirred clear of the controversy which embroils him in a major
international money laundering and fake travel document racket.
"I am shocked to read what has appeared in the newspaper. My overseas
employment agency has ceased to exist since last four years, since I
separated from my wife," Pacheco told PTI at his residence in
Betalbhatim, south Goa.
Pacheco said he is ready to face any inquiry and his bank accounts are
transparent, which could be probed by any agency.
The NCP legislator is in the controversy after a national newspaper
reported that US' bureau of diplomatic security had said that the former
minister may be involved in massive immigration and money laundering
racket.
The news report mentioned that the bureau had got in touch with Indian
Ministry of External Affairs with the relevant documents and case is
being referred to CBI.
The former minister said that all the recruitments done when he ran the
agency along with his estranged wife Sara, were all `valid and with
proper documents.
"I have not sent anyone abroad with forged or fake documents. I am ready
to face any kind of investigation," Pacheco said adding that he does not
know whether Sara still continues with the licence.
The former minister had to step down in June from the state cabinet
after he was booked by crime branch in connection with the death of his
close friend Nadia Torrado.
Pacheco said that his wife, Sara Pacheco, against whom he has filed a
divorce case, had licence of the recruitment agency.
"I don't know whether she continued recruiting people or not. I was out
of the agency business once we separated," said the former tourism
minister.
He said that Sara herself had established the agency - Overseas Manpower
Private Limited, in 1996 and was running it.
"The recruitments were done on ships on seaman visa. Many times the
candidates used to travel to different ports and enter the countries,
the recruitment agency had no hold over it," Pacheco conceded.
The report submitted to MEA had said that Pacheco had USD 15 million in
his account in US and had recently transferred USD 2 million to India.
"I challenge to prove that I have such huge money in my bank accounts,"
he said.
The former minister said the boys who are working abroad, at times,
deposit their money in his account which he withdraws and gives back to
their families back in Goa.
"All the money is accounted one. Those Goan boys working abroad used to
deposit in my account and I used to withdraw them immediately. I have
the bank statement which I can keep open for public scrutiny," he said.
