#Canada, #Quebec, #UPACInvestigation, #FakeVaccinePassports
Quebec/CMEDIA: Quebec’s anti-corruption squad (UPAC) is probing various fraudulent schemes to make and distribute fake vaccine passports in the province with a warning that people involved could face serious criminal charges.
On Jan 19 The Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC) announced that it’s working with the Quebec health department, different police departments, different agencies, and the Quebec Crown prosecutor’s office to investigate fake vaccine passports.
“UPAC investigators are investigating various fraudulent schemes that we want to keep confidential so as not to harm the collection of evidence and the reputation of people who may be involved,” the police force said in a statement.
The unit reportedly wanted to keep the alleged schemes confidential.
“Individuals who would commit these actions could be in violation of several sections of the Criminal Code including production and use of false documents, breach of trust and corruption as well as criminal offenses under the Public Health Act,” the news release stated.
UPAC’s spokesperson, Mathieu Galarneau, reportedly said UPAC is considering all types of possible scams, including those involving a network of people to thoroughly investigate these fake passports.
The anti-corruption body issued the warning one day after Quebec made the vaccine passport mandatory to enter government-run liquor and cannabis stores and could be expanded to more public settings amid the Omicron wave of the pandemic.
At least 10 cases of fake documents related to the vaccine passport were being investigated, Montreal police reportedly said
The vaccine passport has already been applied to restaurants, bars, cinemas, places of worship, outdoor festivals, and several other locations.
