Diplomat 'fast-tracked lover's visa'

A married British diplomat pretended that his Filipina girlfriend was a VIP so he could "fast-track" her visa and set up a secret home with her in England, a court has heard.

It was claimed that, on his return to Britain from Manila, Sharad Ladva would live with his mistress during the week before returning to his wife and family for the weekend.

Mr Ladva's lover was allegedly one of dozens the diplomat helped get into Britain despite the "blatantly" false documents used in their applications.

Another was a conman who was granted a 10-year visa and went on to pocket a fortune from fellow countrymen keen to follow him here.

Southwark Crown Court was told the embassy official's dishonesty finally came to light when two of his colleagues in Manila blew the whistle on him.

They had earlier raised concerns with him about irregularities they had spotted in the paperwork, but stayed quiet after he overruled them.

However, once he had left the Philippines, they mentioned their fears again to other senior staff.

Mr Ladva, of Warminster, Wiltshire, denies two counts of misconduct in a public office between 1 January and 30 November 2002.

Amanda Pinto, for the prosecution, told the court the defendant was a diplomatic service officer who was first posted to Manila in July 1988. During his four-year tour of duty, he was appointed "entry clearance manager" in the visa section. Ms Pinto said the Crown's case was that during Mr Ladva's 10 months of alleged dishonesty he "granted or had other people who worked for him to grant false visa applications".

"In granting those applications, he assisted the applicants to gain entry to the UK," Ms Pinto said. "Had their applications been properly considered ... they would not have obtained visas."

The case is expected to last for about four weeks.