Paralegal sacked after offering to help dodge £60k illegal working fines

A paralegal who was secretly filmed telling a BBC undercover reporter how he could help businesses avoid fines of up to £60,000 for employing illegal workers has been sacked.

At a solicitor’s office in Huddersfield, Zohaib Hussain said he could “prepare documents”, including “business deals”, for a fee of £3,500 to help avoid immigration penalties.

His employer, RKS Solicitors, confirmed he had been “permanently dismissed” a day after the investigation was published and a “police report” was prepared.

Mr Hussain had previously said he categorically denied “all allegations, insinuations and allegations”.

Following a series of BBC reports into organized crime networks operating on Britain’s high streets, the Home Office announced an “urgent investigation” involving the National Crime Agency and multiple police forces.

They revealed what kind of a Kurdish criminal network there is It allows migrants to work illegally in mini markets across the UK.

Our investigation also uncovered a man at the center of an immigration crime group who says he committed crimes. “customers in every city” and may enable illegal work.

Following the reports, senior politicians warned that criminal networks had been compromised. It acts as a pull factor for illegal immigration into the UK.

During one of the investigations, Zohaib Hussain was approached by an undercover reporter posing as a mini-market owner who had been fined up to £60,000 by immigration for employing illegal workers.

During a meeting at a solicitor’s home in Huddersfield, Mr Hussain asked our reporter questions about the cover story.

“How many illegal workers are there? So how much is the fine? How many times have they caught you?”

Then he chuckled and asked what was being sold at the mini-mart: “Do you sell e-cigarettes? Legal or illegal? A little bit of both?”

Mr. Hussain went on to explain how to avoid a fine. “Sometimes we may need to prepare documents such as business agreements,” Mr. Hussain said.

Our undercover reporter then asked if the fine would be transferred to someone else’s name. Mr Hussain said this would be a “last resort”.

Before the meeting ended, Mr Hussain warned that immigration officials would want to skip the sentence immediately by slitting his throat.

He said his fee would be £3,500 and he would “take care of us”.

During the entire meeting with Mr. Hussain, a man known as Shaxawan was present in the room.

Shaxawan was revealed by the BBC to be a man at the center of an organized crime network that facilitated illegal work.

He told undercover reporters that he and his colleagues could help immigrants, including asylum seekers, set up illegal businesses and “mess up” immigration enforcement.

Companies House listings name Shaxawan as Kardos Mateen, a British national in his 30s who is a director of 18 businesses in the north of England, including several High Street mini markets.

Mr Hussain asked our undercover reporter to share future letters sent to the Immigration Department with Shaxawan.

Mr Hussain had previously told the BBC: “To be clear, the Mr Shaxawan Jawad mentioned in your correspondence has no relationship with me, professionally, personally or in any other capacity.”

He added: “I have never engaged in, facilitated, encouraged or condoned any illegal or improper activity.”

Shaxawan, also known as Kardos Mateen, told us via email that he categorically denies “any and all allegations, insinuations and allegations” in our reports and that he is “not employed by, affiliated with, or acting on behalf of RKS Lawyers in any capacity.”

In a previous statement, RKS Solicitors said it had notified the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

“Mr. Hussain works as a paralegal under strict supervision… This individual is not authorized or instructed to provide immigration and tax advice.”

The company did not comment on Shaxawan Jawad. It said it did not condone illegal behavior and was committed to the “highest standards of professionalism, integrity and public service”.

West Yorkshire Police said it was “working closely with the Home Office, who have taken priority in the investigation into the issues highlighted in recent BBC reporting.”