Basildon Council today defended employing a man as its race advisor who had been jailed for an immigration racket.
Bright Oduro-Kwateng -- named as the council's "individual of the year" in 2004 -- used the identities of dead babies on false passports to allow fellow Ghanains to enter Britain illegally.
Council senior director Doug Smith said Mr Oduro-Kwateng declared the conviction on his job application.
He said: "We are quite satisfied with this employee's conduct and suitability for the job."
Mr Oduro-Kwateng, 50, was jailed for a year in 1998.
During a lengthy scam the birth certificates of dead infants, some of whom had lived for just days and had died up to 40 years earlier, were used to obtain false passports in the names of would-be immigrants.
Mr Oduro-Kwateng, whose is Basildon Council's equalities and diversity manager, was dismissed from his job as senior race relations adviser at Greenwich Council following the police investigation.
His job in Basildon includes trying to change people's attitudes and opinions on race issues and promoting equality initiatives.
At his trial he denied one count of conspiring to defraud the Home Office between 1991 and 1998. He denied the charge, claiming he was acting in good faith and had been framed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article