After weeks of discussion about the size of Suaad Hagi Mohamud's lips, Canadian consular officials in Kenya have released a little bit more information about why they believed that she was not the Canadian citizen that was pictured on her passport. The allegations are shocking:In one interview with the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi, Mohamud indicated she was a student at Humber College and was studying fashion design. But in another interview, she denied it and said she was only thinking about going to school at Seneca College. The documents allege she lacked knowledge about Toronto, where she had lived for 10 years. She couldn't name Lake Ontario, and even though she took public transit to work, she had trouble explaining the acronym TTC, the Toronto Transit Commission. She didn't know that the acronym for her Toronto workplace, ATS, stood for Andlauer Transportation Services. She also couldn't name the current or previous prime minister and was unable to describe in any detail how she obtained her driver's licence. The documents also allege she gave a wrong date for her son's birthday and couldn't provide details on the circumstances or place of his birth. [link]If Canadian officials in Kenya were unable to confirm the "Canadian-ness" of the woman we have seen speak on the news, then there is a serious problem. In her interviews and testimonies, Ms. Mohamud speaks Toronto English with a moderate Somali accent--this should be easy to distinguish from someone who had never been to Canada. Moreover, in two hours of interviews with Canadian officials, Ms. Mohamud must have been able to say SOMETHING about the city in which she has lived for the past decade. Where does her son go to school? What grade is he in? What is his teacher's name? Who are the Maple Leafs? Where does she buy her groceries? How must does milk cost?
Clearly, something does NOT add up. I can advance two scenarios that would explain what really happened:
Scenario 1: Suaad Hagi Mohamud has a heart of gold and nerves of steel
The first possibility is that Ms. Mohamud has been honest through the whole ordeal, and that she was declared an impostor by Kenyan authorities due to her refusal to pay a bribe. The scheme would have gone something like this:1. Canadian arrives at Kenyan airport security.
2. Kenyan official asks for bribe, Canadian refuses to pay.
3. Official imprisons Canadian, sells documents to Imposter.
4. Impostor pays bribe at gate.
5. Canadian officials flag Imposter, ask questions.
6. Imposter knows nothing about Canada.
7. Canadian still in jail.
Never underestimate how elaborate an extortion scam can be. If scenario is true, then my heart goes out to Ms. Mohamud. It would mean that she went to a Third-World prison for eight days due to her steadfast refusal to pay a bribe. She deserves an award for her bravery and her righteous indignation—I would have paid the bribe in a second.
Scenario 2: Suaad Hagi Mohamud has a heart of gold and a lot of nerve
The second possibility is that Ms. Mohamud is not telling the whole truth, and that there was indeed an attempt on her behalf to smuggle a third person into Canada. This trick would work as follows:1. Canadian leaves for Kenya.
2. Canadian gives passport to Kenyan friend. (sister?)
3. Kenyan friend "returns" to Canada with Canadian passport.
4. Canadian reports passport missing in Kenya.
If this is the case then Ms. Mohamud is in a lot of trouble. I would not condemn her morally if she were only trying to help her sister, but it would take some arrogance to sue for $2.6m after managing to get away with an attempt at human smuggling. The government would want to make an example out of her in order to deter similar schemes; Ms. Mohamud would have to serve considerable jail time. This is would also impose undue hardship on her 12-year-old son in Toronto—he would be the real victim.
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We can learn a few lessons from this fascinating story:
1. Airport officials in many countries are corrupt as hell, and will engage in elaborate and nasty schemes to coax money from honest and unsuspecting people. Bangkok is a classic case.
2. Although a Canadian passport is a great asset, first-generation Canadians face obstacles when attempting to use it to its full advantage. Not only is it more difficult for them to prove their "Canadian-ness" to our own officials, but they are more attractive as victims of robbery and extortion when visiting their families abroad. This is because their passports are more valuable as they needn't be altered, and extortionists expect them to "know the rules," i.e. pay bribes.
3. Every day, people are risking everything they have to bring themselves and their loved ones to the relative safety and prosperity of Canada. For someone born in this country, there is nothing more humbling than to hear the story of a refugee, the trials they have faced and continue to face, and the loved ones they've left behind. God bless them.
