JUNE 9, 2005

F1 immigration scam revealed

The Bahraini authorities have arrested a tour operator in the city for helping more than 50 people, mainly young women, to get into the country on F1 visas. Visitors who arrived for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in early April were granted two-week visit visas but hundreds stayed on and found employment in Bahrain, presumably in the country's flourishing sex industry. The visas were granted to anyone who turned up at immigration with a ticket for the race. The tour operator has been ordered to produce the missing visitors within seven days but if that fails it is expected that police will start raiding establishments where they may be found. A large number of others who overstayed their welcome have since departed leaving just the hard core.