The Crown is to begin extradition proceedings against the father of a lawyer charged with immigration fraud, has learned.

Lawyer Robert William Martyn, 41, of Smiths Parish, was charged in March with conspiring to defraud the Immigration Department in relation to an application for Bermuda status.

Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser confirmed yesterday that Martyn?s father, William Robert Martyn, was also charged with Immigration fraud offences in Magistrates Court on Monday and an arrest warrant was issued for him.

And he said the Crown intends to begin extradition proceedings against Martyn Sr., who, he said, is believed to be in Canada.

?He (Martyn Sr.) was charged with conspiring to defraud the Immigration authorities in relation to an application for Bermuda status, and for giving false information to the Department of Immigration in relation to his birth,? Mr. Ratneser told yesterday.

?Extradition proceedings against him will follow. It is alleged he is in Canada.?

Martyn Jr., a lawyer for Westbury Limited, which is owned by Canadian billionaire Michael DeGroote, was charged with defrauding Chief Immigration Officer Martin Brewer in 2000 to obtain status for his father.

He is also accused of knowingly and fraudulently uttering a false birth certificate in his own name on or about September 18 2000.

He is further accused of giving Mr. Brewer information which he believed not to be true to get status.

Oonagh Vaucrossan appeared for the Crown on Monday before Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves.

Martyn Junior?s case was called on Monday for a preliminary hearing but it was adjourned to a latter date and his bail was continued.