Five jailed in Yorkshire 'cash for citizenship' scam

South Yorkshire Police said the scam involved staff at the firm City Wide Learning (CWL), in Sheffield, providing certificates for paying customers from cities around the UK including Belfast, Glasgow, London, Birmingham and Liverpool.

The force spent three years investigating complaints relating to the company's operation of the Life In The UK test. The investigation was first highlighted in the Yorkshire Post.

See Thursday's Yorkshire Post for full details and background on the case.

This exam, which is done on a computer and in English, is necessary for all immigrants wanting to secure UK citizenship since the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

It is designed to test English language skills and knowledge of life in the UK.

CWL ran one of about 80 approved test centres across the UK.

Detectives said they were informed in 2006 that CWL was providing pass certificates for a fee - thought to be between 250 and more than 1,000 a time.

They found CWL had a 88% first time pass rate compared with a 66% rate nationally.

A force spokesman said there were indications many candidates who took advantage of the fraud had failed at other UK centres.

More than 2,600 candidates from outside South Yorkshire obtained passes from CWL, many from London which has more than a dozen test centres.

Five men were given jail sentences at Sheffield Crown Court this week. Two others were given suspended jail sentences and ordered to do community service. The last of these sentences were handed down today.

Detective Constable Adrian Ward, from South Yorkshire Police's Money Laundering Investigation Team, said: "This national operation has been long and intricate. These men ran their business illegally, allowing people to falsely claim documents, which have affected people up and down the country.

"People who are behaving fraudulently will be investigated and, if found guilty, the benefits of their crimes will be taken from them."

Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said: "I am pleased with the verdict that has been handed out today.

"This week's successful prosecution is one of many examples of the UK Border Agency and police officers working together to tackle serious organised crime in our communities.

"We are introducing a new path to citizenship which will provide a clearer and fairer journey for immigrants, striking the right balance between demonstrating commitment to the United Kingdom and gaining access to the benefits of living here.

"If anyone is found to have met the language requirements for citizenship through dubious means then their application will be refused."

A total of eight men were either found guilty or pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the UK Border Agency.

Those convicted were:

Halil Dari, 35, from Sheffield, was found guilty and will be sentenced at a later date.

Mehmet Ince, 37, from London, was found guilty and jailed for two and a half years.

Mohammed Yousif, 34, from Sheffield, was found guilty and jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Abdi Rashif Yusuf, 37, from Sheffield, was found guilty and jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Mustafa Yassin, 29, from Sheffield, was found guilty and jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Yusuf Mubarak, 28, from Sheffield, was found guilty and jailed for 15 months.

Shpetim Ymeri, 37, from London, pleaded guilty and was given an eight month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to do 200 hours community service.

Mohammad Jafari, 36, from Birmingham, pleaded guilty and was given a six month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to do 200 hours community service.