Case adjourned for fraudulent immigration firm
Claimants say they were conned for £7,000. Peter Swingler reports
A firm is being investigated by police after being accused of fraud involving many thousands of pounds and allegedly misleading people into thinking they were solicitors.
The firm is thought to have provided legal advice on immigration and jobs after receiving fees from vulnerable people, legal representative Mr Syed Abbas told Birmingham Immigration and Asylum Tribunal.
He was representing Mrs Savita Vyas and her husband Dipeshumar of West Wycombe, who complained they had been conned by the firm for £7,000.
They said they had paid the money for legal advice on immigration and work issues but had not received the response they expected.
Abbas said: 'The police are carrying out investigations into this firm because it is alleged there has been large scale fraud.
'The firm set itself up in plush offices and allegedly misled people into thinking they were solicitors. At least 30 cases are said to be involved and the police have taken over from the Home Office into looking into the matter.'
Tribunal judge Mr Paul Heatherington said he had heard other people complain about the supposed fraud shortly before his case started.
'I would have thought it would be quite easy to check if the firm were genuine solicitors,' he said.
Heathington has adjourned the hearing until later this year, shortly after it started.
Abbas declined to comment about the Vyas's case after the hearing because of the adjournment.
The firm is said to be based in the London area.
Peter Swingler is a freelance journalist