Couple arrested in USA

Petrus Botes (50) and his partner Yvonne Coetzee (32) have been arrested in the USA and charged with bringing South African workers into the USA on temporary work permits and then placing them illegally with unauthorised employers. Coetzee was also charged with encouraging them to remain in the USA as illegal immigrants. US Immigration and Customs said the couple established an employment bureau, JP Services, in Bennington, Kansas, that provided agricultural workers. Charges include illegal applications for work permits without the consent of the workers. They are also charged with falsifying employers' signatures on the application forms. After the permits were approved, they placed workers with employers other than those indicated on the permits. Botes and Coetzee were found guilty of contravening visa regulations in 2002. They recently received a final summons to leave the USA. Should they be found guilty on the recent charges, they would have to serve their sentences before being deported to South Africa.