Lawyer Michel Karp, who represents one of the three individuals who has reached a plea bargain in a fraudulent immigration case, spoke to RTL's Michèle Sinner this week.
"My client had no contact with any government officials or employees," he said. "He heard that a fellow countryman, living and well-established in Luxembourg, could help him obtain a resident permit. So he got in contact, the man confirmed this to him and said he would just have to pay a certain sum and he would take care of everything."
The client paid €6,000 for the false permit, and did not realise that it was problematic.
"He paid it and believed he would receive the necessary papers, without knowing that it was illegal."
In return for the payment, he received false school documents and language certificates. Although he paid, no charges of corruption were filed.
"My client had nothing to do with any civil servants or Ministry of Immigration employees. He only dealt with his compatriot and although I don't know his status, I assume that as he was just an intermediary, he was not charged with corruption in my client's case."
The client's demand for a temporary residence permit (AST) was submitted in June 2020 and approved before the end of the year. In 2024, he was interviewed by the police. A year later, he was brought before a judge, and this June the public prosecutor's office offered to settle the matter via a plea deal. Karp said this was the right approach for his client.
"The whole affair has a much higher level. My client doesn't necessarily need to be involved beyond this. The prosecution has decided my client admitted to the offences, we agree, and the case is closed. It's good for him that the case is over, and there isn't a sword of Damocles hanging over his head."
The main investigation into the immigration issues has not been concluded, with allegations of corruption linked to the case.
"This case will last years," Karp said. "Why would my client need to wait that long? He needs to know where he stands, so he can move on to something new in his life."
When asked on Tuesday how things should unfold for the people affected, Minister Léon Gloden was unable to reply. Karp said of his client: "He has a job in Luxembourg now which has nothing to do with the matters from 2020, it's a completely different job and has nothing to do with the demands made of him in the beginning."
The issue of fraudulent immigration will continue to develop on a judicial level, but also on a political level.
