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December 23, 2009

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Home » Metro » Public Services

Man caught trying to exit for Europe on cousin's identity

LOCAL entry-exit authorities have caught a man from Africa who was trying to illegally immigrate from the city to Europe with his cousin's passport, officials said yesterday.

The man, whose name and nationality were not released, used to be an excellent student at a Beijing university. But he ditched a lot of class, spending his time on online games, and was expelled earlier this year, authorities said.

His cousin managed to be admitted to a European school and tried to send the man there, on the cousin's identity, to revive his education.

The captured man has been awaiting investigation, and entry-exit officers will escort him out of the country from Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Shanghai Entry-Exit Administration said the man came to China two years ago to learn Chinese in a state-financed program.

He studied for the bachelor degree of business administration in a top university in Beijing. He did well and became very popular among classmates and teachers.

However, his obsession with online games kept him at his computer for stretches of up to 24 hours, neglecting sleep and meals. The school dismissed him and canceled his student residence permits in February.

The man was afraid to face his parents and dared not go home.

His cousin, seeking to help him, applied to schools with his own identity and received admission to a European university with scholarship. He booked an air ticket and handed his passport, university admission notice and a great deal of money to the expelled student.

He asked the man to study abroad, using his name, and to go back home in Africa after graduation to please his parents.

Moved by his cousin's efforts, the man promised to study hard and give up his addiction to games.

He was caught by the city's entry-exit authorities last month.




 

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