Indian authorities have requested Interpol issue an alert against Lalit Modi, to no avail, because Interpol says it has insufficient evidence, after which Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat ordered the Citizenship Commission to revoke Lalit Modi’s passport.
Napat confirmed to an official statement that Modi’s background checks contained no criminal convictions at the time of his application, but he has recently been informed that Interpol had twice turned down the Indian request to issue an alert notice. “I have directed the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission to immediately commence proceedings to cancel Mr. Modi’s Vanuatu passport.”
The Prime Minister stated, and reiterated that had an Interpol alert been issued, Modi’s application for citizenship would have automatically been declined. “Obtaining a Vanuatu passport is a privilege, not a right, and applicants must have a justifiable reason for doing so,” he said. “Attempts were not a reason, among the many legitimate reasons, to avoid extradition, the recent facts reflect that was the intent of Mr. Modi,” Napat added.
He also mentioned Vanuatu’s strict actions on tightening its citizenship through an investment program. Triple-agency checks, better scrutiny by Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit, and mandatory Interpol verification have been put in place by the government. This leaves more applications to be rejected in the last few years.
Vanuatu is a Pacific island nation with 83 islands, situated between Australia and Fiji. Port Vila is on Efate Island; it is its capital. The country is known for its citizenship-by-investment program, but it has been coming under fire for allegedly protecting people who want to be out of legal reach. Yet, Napat’s cancelation of Modi’s passport reflects a tougher line on international accountability and law enforcement cooperation.
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