Yet another 'adviser' convicted of unlawful immigration advice

An unqualified immigration adviser has pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' court to ten charges of providing unregulated advice and services.

Oscar Silva, of Latin American Advice Centre Ltd, London, was fined £1,650 and ordered to pay costs of £1,132 after admitting to giving immigration advice to members of the public since January 2015.

Commenting on the sentence, immigration services commissioner, Suzanne McCarthy, said: 'Mr Silva chose to operate outside the law, and without regard for the protection of his clients. I am delighted with the outcome of this case, and I hope it sends a clear message to other people considering providing immigration advice - act within the law or you will find yourself in court.'

It is the second sentencing of an unregulated adviser in a matter of days after Rais Nawaz Malik of Remedy Legal, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' court to two charges of providing unregulated immigration advice since May 2013.

For 'misleading' his clients, Malik was given a community order for 24 weeks, is subject to a curfew, and an electronic tag, also for 24 weeks, by District Judge Crane. In addition, he was ordered to pay compensation of £4,400 within 14 days.

These are just the latest in a spate of cases involving unlawful immigration advice.

Among recent notable decisions was the case of a Sierra Leone national who falsely claimed to be a solicitor and was jailed for 15 months imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court having been found guilty of providing unregulated advice and services.

Also, in May, a Luton-based solicitor was convicted on four offences of providing unregulated advice at Luton Magistrates' Court.

Flora Magdaline Mendes was convicted in her absence and sentenced to six months' imprisonment for each offence to run concurrently and suspended for two years.

Also of note is the adjourned case of a fraudulent immigration firm in Birmingham. The 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.

Esther Nimmo is an editorial assistant at Solicitors Journal