New details of the visa scandal have surfaced, with nepotism allegations now being part of the scandal, EU Helpers reports.

As Business Insider explains, the person who represents Afghans applying for German Schengen visas at the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, is the wife of a high-ranking Ministry of Foreign Affairs official.

This high-ranking official works in the Middle East department that is responsible for Afghanistan. His wife, on the other hand, does not have a contract with the Ministry but according to media reports she receives orders from the Foreign Office and executes them.

The report revealed that the lawyer prepared legal action and also gave online courses to the embassy staff who are responsible for making visa decisions.

The embassy staff made a complaint, saying that the lawyer could have access to confidential information through her husband. However, no measures were taken, raising suspicions of a conflict of interest.

Despite increased suspicion, the Ministry said for Business Insider that the lawyer continues to receive orders from the authority. The authority further noted that they “examined the facts” but could not identify any conflict of interest.

Minister Baerbock Accused of Facilitating Entry for Some Specific Individuals on Forged Documents

Pressure on Minister Baerbock has been increasing in the last months after it was revealed that she was part of the scandal that made it possible for nationals of Syria, Afghanistan, and Türkiye to obtain German Schengen visas through fake documents.

The Foreign Ministry officials denied that visas were issued on forged documents. However, reports indicate that several people are currently under investigation and that some of those who were granted visas could be foreign secret agents.

It is suspected that Minister Baerbock also brought nationals of Pakistan to Germany illegally through a programme aimed at nationals of Afghanistan.

Officials at the German embassy in Islamabad said they had sent a letter to headquarters in Berlin informing them that a family of seven allegedly from Afghanistan had accepted admission promises from the government.

The embassy also warned in the letter that their entry into the country could staged and that the individuals may have deliberately been given Afghan nationality.

This suggests that these people were brought to Germany for a special purpose, increasing concerns.

In addition to the above-mentioned, it is suspected that several other Afghans, Syrians, and Turks have entered Germany on questionable documents and have applied for asylum.