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0 The man who paid Keith Vaz’s escorts for sex was given a parliamentary pass which allowed him unfettered access to Westminster.
Daniel Dimitru Dragusin secured the pass to the Palace of Westminster, allowing him to walk through the House of Lords – even taking his family for a visit and meeting Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri there.
Pictures on social media show the 31-year-old on holiday – using a distinctive green House of Commons carrier bag as his beach bag – in 2012 in Goa, a region of India where Mr Vaz is revered as a VIP.
Goa: Keith Vaz’s aide Daniel Dragusin pictured on the beach with a House of Commons bag
Close: MP Keith Vaz and Daniel Dragusin on the House of Commons terrace
His involvement in the Labour MP’s sex and drugs scandal came to light when it emerged a £150 ‘deposit’ was made from Mr Dragusin’s bank account to the account of a male Affordable Escort Service Goa.
The money carried the reference ‘painting work’ when it appeared in bank records – the same ‘code word’ Mr Vaz used for sex in text messages he sent to male escorts.
There is no evidence that Mr Dragusin knew the cash was intended to pay for sexual services.
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According to the Mirror, Mr Dragusin got the Westminster security pass after official paperwork from the late Lord Tarsem King said he was working for him.
Suresh Joshi, Lord King’s press secretary for ten years, told the paper Keith Vaz was ‘always trying to get passes for people’, adding: ‘We had an organisation called the Asian Guild, which Lord King was in charge of.
‘Lord King agreed to let Keith Vaz take one for people if they would help with the Asian Guild work.’
Mr Dragusin’s involvement in Keith Vaz’s sex and drugs scandal came to light when it emerged a £150 ‘deposit’ was made from Mr Dragusin’s bank account to the account of a male escort
However Mr Joshi said Mr Dragusin did not do any work with the Guild.
A spokesman for Mr Vaz told the Mirror: ‘Mr Vaz and Lord King worked together in Parliament on a number of issues especially and including matters to do with the ethnic minority community.
‘Daniel Dragusin worked on these issues during the time he was a pass holder. There was no breach of the code.
Maria Fernandes (pictured), said the revelation that her husband of 23 years paid two male prostitutes for sex had come ‘out of the blue’ and was a ‘complete shock’
‘Mr Dragusin ceased to be a passholder after Lord King’s death.’
Mr Dragusin has worked for some eight years as Keith Vaz’s chauffeur and lists himself on LinkedIn as working at diabetes charity Silver Star – which was founded by the MP.
From 2008 to 2010 he worked as a chauffeur for Express Rent-a-Car.
He later became Mr Vaz’s driver, and was occasionally allowed to borrow a ‘fancy car’, said an associate to Mr Vaz this week.
He added: ‘He was often driving Keith’s car when he was not on duty. Daniel presents himself quite well and is very helpful.’
MailOnline has approached Mr Vaz for comment. Mr Dragusin could not be contacted.
PEERS CAN SPONSOR PASSES FOR STAFF WHO HELP WITH ‘SECRETARIAL OR RESEARCH’ WORK
Peers can sponsor parliamentary passes for staff who ‘provide parliamentary secretarial or research assistance’.
But they are banned from participating in lobbying and rules say they cannot behave in a way that undermines public confidence in Westminster.
The names of the individuals are registered, and they have to declare any financial interests and other earnings.
The rules are very similar in the House of Commons, with the standards commissioner responsible for investigating complaints about whether passes have been abused.
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