Fed: Internet compnay considers legal action over fake letter

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2000
Fed: Internet compnay considers legal action over fake letter

MELBOURNE, April 15 AAP - A Melbourne-based Internet media business was considering
legal action today after a Chinese delegation entered Australia with a fake invitation
from the company.

Ron Smith, managing director of medialaunch.com, called for immigration officials to
reveal the name of the Melbourne tour operator who gave the bogus letter to the six Chinese
officials.

"If it is proven that the tour operator has forged his letter and is charged, basically
what we will do is take civil action and sue them," Mr Smith said.

Immigration officials investigating the incident have said the invitation was immaterial
to visas being granted the group when they arrived in Cairns on Thursday.

Mr Smith said the fraudulent letter had been "cobbled together" by cutting and pasting
his company's letterhead.

Mr Smith said his company had no involvement with the Chinese delegation and questioned
why the group had failed to check the authenticity of the bogus invitation.

"Why are they using this letter? Why didn't they check this out? Why didn't they contact
us?" Mr Smith said.

AAP nl/as s

KEYWORD: VISA

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