 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Citizenship ceremony conman jailed
The mastermind behind a fake document scam which raked in hundreds of thousands of pounds from immigrants seeking to stay in the UK has today been jailed for four-and-half years after a trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Xiang Li, 29, of Stratford, London, who denied the charges, ran two bogus law firms, issued fake passports and work permits, and even staged a phoney citizenship ceremony where the unsuspecting immigrants were greeted by actors playing the parts of officials and local dignitaries against a backdrop of a picture of the Queen and the Union flag.
The investigation, Operation Catalina, began when police officers working at King George Docks in Humberside arrested a Chinese national trying to enter the UK using what he believed to be a legitimate UK passport.
Further inquiries by the UK Border Agency's Immigration Crime Team led to two suspicious 'law firms' based in and around various addressed on Lombard Street in central London, called Lombard and Borough de Law, who advertised their services in the Chinese language press.
Following operations on both firms, the team unearthed receipts showing the companies had charged up to 50 individuals an average of £20,000 for their services. It was also here that they uncovered evidence of the meticulously planned bogus citizenship ceremony that took place at the Methodist Hall in Westminster close to the Houses of Parliament in December 2007. The gang were also involved in issuing forged documents. This led to the arrest of Xiang Li in January 2008.
Welcoming the verdict, Regional Director for the UK Border Agency Jeremy Oppenheim said:
"Criminal gangs should be warned - we are putting an end to scams like this. Major reforms to the immigration system are making life harder than ever for those seeking to abuse our hospitality. Today's verdict is the result of the strong partnerships we have forged with the police across the UK to crack down on organised criminals seeking to abuse the immigration system
"The sentence handed out shows there is no hiding place for those that break the rules. We will take steps to deport Mr Li at the end of his sentence. "
With Xiang Li's conviction the search continues for his alleged accomplice, Tian Zhao, 26 real name believed to be Wentao LI.
The trial was the culmination of a twenty-month investigation by the newly formed North East, Yorkshire and the Humber Immigration Crime Team, which comprises UK Border Agency officers working with detectives from seven police forces in the region to tackle organised immigration crime.
Detective Chief Inspector for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber Immigration Crime Team Dave Powell said:
"This was a highly organised and elaborate national scam and we are pleased to see this successful conviction today. The combination of skills from UK Border Agency Immigration officers and Detectives from the Police make for a formidable team that can pursue suspects wherever they reside in the UK.
"We remain committed to tracing other's suspected of being part of this organised crime group, to ensure that they cannot take advantage of other vulnerable people who seek to live and work in the UK."
The trial judge recommended Xiang Li for deportation after serving his sentence.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Xiang Li was convicted today - 29 September 2009 - at Southwark Crown Court. He was found guilty of money laundering, assisting unlawful entry into the EU (namely the UK) and of fraud by misrepresentation. Li was part of a criminal gang that targeted Chinese and other nationals seeking to obtain UK passports and work permits. He was sentenced to four-and-half years for facilitating unlawful entry into the EU, three-and-a-half years for fraud and three years for money laundering. He pleaded guilty to a further three charges of fraud and a further free charges of facilitating illegal entry to the EU at a previous hearing. The sentences will run concurrent.
2. The UK Border Agency was launched on 3 April 2008 by the Home Office, establishing a single force to protect our borders, control migration for the benefit of the country, prevent border tax fraud, smuggling and immigration crime and make quick and fair decisions on asylum claims.
3. The North East, Yorkshire and the Humber Immigration Crime Team were set up in April 2008 and is one of several regional teams. These specialist teams of seconded police officer and the UK Border Agency staff have been set up to investigate crime, and prosecute those behind it.
4. The UK Border Agency are also rolling out identity cards for foreign nationals, containing fingerprints and facial scans so that there can be no doubt about a person's identity.
5. Anyone with information related to this case or on the whereabouts of Mr Li's alleged accomplice who used the name Mr Tian Zhao. His real name is believed to be Wentao LI. Anyone with information can contact anonymously Crimestoppers on: 0800 555 111
The Home Office Press Office can be contacted on 020 7035 3535
UKBA001/2009
Contacts:
NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
