Stamp Was Fake But Passport Genuine States Loloahi

Baroness Scotland to appear as prosecution witness in former housekeeper's trial

Loloahi Tapui, former housekeeper of Attorney General Baroness Scotland, has admitted to possessing a false document, but denied intending to use it for fraud.

Tapui, who lives in of Sutton Court Lane, appeared in Southwark Crown Court charged with immigration offences including using a false passport, fraud and overstaying her visa.

She admitted to using a passport with a fake visa stamp but that the passport itself was genuine. She also claimed that she hadn't intended to use the passport to establish facts about herself or to earn money as a cleaner.

The Tongan born 27 year old worked at the Chiswick home of the Attorney General until September 2009 when it was discovered that she had overstayed her visa. She was subsequently arrested along with her husband, Alexander Zivancevic, and their flat searched by immigration officers.

In a statement her publicist, Max Clifford said there were "mitigating circumstances" surrounding the charge of overstaying her visa adding "She is claiming she never misled Baroness Scotland and has never given anyone false information."

Baroness Scotland, who could be called as a witness in the trial, was fined £5,000 for employing Tapui. Despite calls for her resignation, the Attorney General hung onto her job after Gordon Brown said she had only committed a “technical” breach of the legislation she had helped to push through Parliament.

Loloahi Tapui's trial on will begin on 6th April and her former employer Baroness Scotland will appear as a prosecution witness.

If found guilty, Tapui could face up to 10 years in prison.

January 18, 2010