A bogus Immigration Adviser from Birmingham who after taking thousands from unsuspecting members of the Pakistani community had his victims intimidated, has been sentenced to 27 months imprisonment.
Safhir Majid, formerly a mortgage advisor, from Cradley Heath, was recently sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to a total of 27 months imprisonment plus a victim surcharge. Mr Majid is to serve half the sentence in custody and half on licence.
His partner, Shahid Ahmed Bhatti, a former businessman, of Great Barr, was given a 16 month sentence suspended for 24 months plus a victim surcharge.
Mr Majid, 38, and Mr Bhatti, 39, founded Empire Legal Solutions Ltd in Walsall, West Midlands, where they pretended to be qualified immigration advisers with Mr Majid posing as a fake solicitor. They then took monies from unsuspecting members of the public by providing poor advice; in one case £4,500 from a client.
Mr Majid pleaded guilty to five counts of providing unqualified immigration advice and services and one count of fraud by false representation.
Mr Bhatti pleaded guilty to one count of providing unqualified immigration advice and one count of fraud by false representation.
His Honour Judge Mayo said to Mr Majid, “You posed as a lawyer, you knew you were not qualified” and to Mr Bhatti, “Your role was lesser but when required you were able to offer enforcement”.
He went on to say concerning one particular case, “You bungled one application and as a result of your incompetence she faces removal from the UK. You threatened her husband and this is despicable behaviour, you threatened again in the case of other victims.
“Offences of this type prey on vulnerable people. Immigration relies on people being properly represented, you were incompetent and greedy. You have made a good deal of money from these frauds”.
Commenting on about the decision, Deputy Immigration Services Commissioner Dr Ian Leigh, said: “Safhir Majid and Shahid Ahmed Bhatti set up a criminal enterprise to provide immigration advice when they were not qualified or competent to do so.
“The degree of culpability is high, as is the harm they have caused. They owe a considerable amount of money to individuals, may have caused harm to unknown others and have undermined the immigration system.
“These are extremely serious offences. I am delighted with the outcome in this case.”
Notes to the Editor
- The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), who took out the prosecution, is an independent public body, established under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, to regulate the provision of immigration advice and services in the UK.
- For further information contact Cornelius Alexander, Corporate Communications Officer, at the OISC on 0207 211 1617.
Link: Press release: Birmingham duo sentenced for fraud and unqualified immigration advice
Source: Gov Press Releases
