It was the week when Minister Edmond Castro's visas were cancelled, the week when 3 UDP Ministers and the Prime Minister said they wouldn't have done what John Saldivar did with the Coast Guard vessels…but Alvarine Burgess still made the biggest news when she named names at the Senate Inquiry into Immigration irregularities. She said that she had contracted Minister Boots Martinez to do immigration business for her, and that Minister Erwin Contreras did it for free because he is a family friend. We stress, both Martinez and Contreras have flatly denied doing any business with her. But one other name she did call is police officer Rochelle Chan. She said that he was the one who put her unto the immigration hustle, the one who had the names and the connections - including Chan's brother in law, Elvin Penner. Now, on Wednesday he told us she was lying, but as the supposed mastermind, this police officer of 23 years has been under immense pressure. Today, he agreed to give us a statement, or a few statements, but no interview, per se. He said he would reserve his response to her direct allegations. Here's how he put it:...
ASP Rochelle Chan, Accused by Alvarine Burgess
"I have not read or heard what has been said in the senate select. What I can say right now is that if there is any comment that I need to say in regards to whatever have been said, I would reserve that for now. I am seeking legal advice in relation to whatever have been said. In relation to the comments that have been through the social media, I cannot stop anyone from saying anything. I know that the honorable senate select is conducting an inquiry and things have come forth and in relation to Miss Alvarine Burgess as mentioned, I do not know her in that name. I know her, I will not deny the fact, by Cosa. Her name is Cosa as far as I concern and I saw her picture."
"But nonetheless I would not want to elaborate in anything in relation to the inquiry for now."
"The other question out on to me that I am Mr. Penner's brother in law. I cannot deny that fact either. It's universally known and that's what I can say for now. But as an experience person pertaining to certain things my opinion would be you cannot hide no paper trail. You cannot hide tangible evidence and if there is certain things it should be there in the report. Things that you can pull and show. Things that can brought forth as evidence. I will leave it like that Mr. Jules."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"How has this personally affected you?"
ASP Rochelle Chan, Accused by Alvarine Burgess
"Personally it has not affected me in any way, but I can foresee from my point of view in opinion that maybe and it's my opinion to say some sort of victimization, some later future date when the time comes. Because the way I see it, this is an inquiry but it seems in my opinion now, a more political venture and I am now having place by Miss Cosa to certain things."
"I know the senate is conducting an audit report investigation. I have not seen that report, but I don't think my name has been mentioned in there. Nonetheless, it's where we go with that."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"When we spoke 2 days ago, you said she was lying."
ASP Rochelle Chan, Accused by Alvarine Burgess
"Let me reserve my comment Mr. Jules. I spoke to you. I had mentioned certain things. I won't deny that fact. But in relation to anything pertaining to the senate select, I would want to reserve that comment."
We did get to squeeze in a few questions and one of them was about his US Visa. Reports said that it had been cancelled - but Chan told us it just expired in the normal course:..
ASP Rochelle Chan, Accused by Alvarine Burgess
"In 2006 in was granted a visa for me to go and testify against the Hertular case. I don't know if you remember that case. The extradition and the drug trafficking case. I am proud to say we got a conviction on that. The visa was granted to me. I haven't paid a cent for the visa. It was complimentary from the US government. It was a tourist visa, extended until February 2016, which have expired. From since then I have no visa and to say that anything has been revoked, no. It's not so. Again, like how I mention to evidence, I can bring the passport and show you it."
Chan says he was never called into the US embassy at any time, for any reason. He also added that investigators can review his personal finances which will show that he was no mastermind.
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