Shown here is the U. Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana. State Department. The State Department acknowledged it is investigating alleged "improprieties" regarding a consular official who until recently was posted to Guyana, following reports he was trading visas for money and possibly sex.
The department said in a statement it was "aware" of the allegations, without going into detail. If the allegations are substantiated, we will work with the relevant authorities to hold anyone involved accountable. Benschop said the officer was either part of a scam or "manipulated" into getting involved.
The Guyana Observer also reported last week on allegations that the official issued "dozens of visas" to Guyanese women for sex. Benschop told FoxNews. He also said the officer was removed from his South American post and sent back to Virginia recently, well before his assignment was scheduled to end in September.
AFP previously cited "government sources in Guyana" as saying the official used a popular Georgetown, Guyana, restaurant and bar to conduct his business. Another local media report claimed the alleged visa scam may have been going on for months.
The allegations conjure bad memories in Guyana, coming 13 years after a former U. Benschop explained that some in Guyana use the services of what are known as "backtrackers" -- black-market operatives who charge money for people having difficulty obtaining a visa. They then coordinate with "corrupt" embassy officials, with whom they split the money, to facilitate the issuance of the visas. Benschop said the individual in question had been seen on trips with "known backtrackers.
