Latest News

Asylum/benefits conspiracy investigation successful

Released on 27 Apr 2006

As part of a joint investigation between Oxford City Council, the Immigration Department, Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire County Council, the National Asylum Support Service and the Department for Work and Pensions, 16 people have been convicted of conspiracy charges for the facilitation of illegal entry into the UK and to defraud various agencies (namely those above) between 2000 and 2004.

As a result of the investigation, a total loss to public finds was identified as £611,000 among all the agencies.

The investigation stated in Oct 2003, when Oxford City Council was approached by Immigration officers, who had received information that false asylum claims were being made by people who were being housed in properties run by Mohammed Faruq of Whitson Place, Oxford. They also had information that the people coming into the UK were members of his extended family, and that, when arriving in the UK, they were claiming asylum under false identities.

Mohammed Faruq was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. Four other members of his immediate family were also convicted in the first trial, which was heard in Reading Crown Court in September 2005.

The second and third trials in March and April were both held in Oxford, and all those prosecuted received some form of custodial sentence.

Back to news listing