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| Hyde immigration scam men jailed | Hyde immigration scam men jailed |
| (12 days later) | |
| Seven men have been sentenced after 200 illegal immigrants were charged up to £15,000 each for fake documents in a scam to allow them to stay in the UK. | |
| The operation, uncovered by immigration officers during a raid, was run from Ataur Talukdar's travel and cargo business in Hyde, Greater Manchester. | The operation, uncovered by immigration officers during a raid, was run from Ataur Talukdar's travel and cargo business in Hyde, Greater Manchester. |
| His associate Haroon Miah, a Barclays bank clerk, had opened accounts to aid the scam, Manchester Crown Court heard. | His associate Haroon Miah, a Barclays bank clerk, had opened accounts to aid the scam, Manchester Crown Court heard. |
| The accounts, opened in Hyde, were for people from as far away as Aberdeen. | The accounts, opened in Hyde, were for people from as far away as Aberdeen. |
| John Dilworth, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "These defendants were involved in a sophisticated and well organised criminal enterprise which provided individuals with the necessary documents to enable them to reside in the UK and access all the benefits that a British citizen is entitled to." | John Dilworth, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "These defendants were involved in a sophisticated and well organised criminal enterprise which provided individuals with the necessary documents to enable them to reside in the UK and access all the benefits that a British citizen is entitled to." |
| Forged documents | Forged documents |
| The Home Office investigation started when officers visited Talukdar's business Miftah Travel and Cargo in Hyde in January 2011, and discovered a man with an envelope of fake documents and £12,000 in cash. | The Home Office investigation started when officers visited Talukdar's business Miftah Travel and Cargo in Hyde in January 2011, and discovered a man with an envelope of fake documents and £12,000 in cash. |
| Among the documents was a Barclays Bank statement for an account opened by Talukdar less than an hour previously under a different name, having been dealt with by staff member Haroon Miah. | Among the documents was a Barclays Bank statement for an account opened by Talukdar less than an hour previously under a different name, having been dealt with by staff member Haroon Miah. |
| On searching the office, more forged bills, passports and documents were found, leading to the imprisonment of seven men, mainly from Bangladesh, for fraud and identity offences. | On searching the office, more forged bills, passports and documents were found, leading to the imprisonment of seven men, mainly from Bangladesh, for fraud and identity offences. |
| They paid up to £15,000 each for the papers in the hope of getting naturalisation and then British citizenship which would allow them access to benefits and to bring other family members to live in the UK. | They paid up to £15,000 each for the papers in the hope of getting naturalisation and then British citizenship which would allow them access to benefits and to bring other family members to live in the UK. |
| When he was arrested, immigration officers found 17 different bank cards in nine different names on Talukdar. | When he was arrested, immigration officers found 17 different bank cards in nine different names on Talukdar. |
| His bank accounts showed hundreds of thousands of pounds unaccounted for, including payments from two men who went on to be convicted of immigration offences. | His bank accounts showed hundreds of thousands of pounds unaccounted for, including payments from two men who went on to be convicted of immigration offences. |
| Much of the money paid for the documents was laundered by family and friends Talukdar had helped gain new identities, the court heard. | Much of the money paid for the documents was laundered by family and friends Talukdar had helped gain new identities, the court heard. |
| Minimise fraud risk | Minimise fraud risk |
| Another associate, Wahidur Rahman, used his position as chief executive of Oldham-based Community Skills Development Agency to supply false references suggesting high salaries for mortgage applications. | Another associate, Wahidur Rahman, used his position as chief executive of Oldham-based Community Skills Development Agency to supply false references suggesting high salaries for mortgage applications. |
| Director Neil Flynn said Rahman resigned two years ago but still does voluntary work in the office. | Director Neil Flynn said Rahman resigned two years ago but still does voluntary work in the office. |
| Mr Flynn said: "He just comes in occasionally to volunteer. It's a personal matter for him, he is no longer the CEO." | Mr Flynn said: "He just comes in occasionally to volunteer. It's a personal matter for him, he is no longer the CEO." |
| Barclays said it takes steps to minimise the risk of staff fraud but "it is something that can happen in any organisation no matter how stringent the vetting procedures are". | Barclays said it takes steps to minimise the risk of staff fraud but "it is something that can happen in any organisation no matter how stringent the vetting procedures are". |
| The following sentences were handed to the men involved: | The following sentences were handed to the men involved: |