Unqualified Immigration Adviser Receives Suspended Sentence
Former adviser convicted
On Wednesday 12 December 2018 at Westminster Magistrates Court, Ms Namrata THAKKAR aged 37 years of Priory Gardens, London, Acton, pleaded guilty to two counts of providing unregulated immigration advice and services between 1 January 2016 and 18 March 2017.
Namrata Thakkar was employed as a recruitment consultant/immigration adviser between May 2012 and January 2016. As part of her employment she was required to be regulated by the OISC to provide immigration advice and assistance to persons recruited from all over the world to work in the UK. When her employment was terminated she continued to provide immigration advice, which she was no longer qualified to provide.
She was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for one year. She was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1500 and a victim surcharge of £115.
On sentencing District Judge Blake, said,
“I see these as very serious offences where the starting point for sentence is one of custody….I give you credit for the guilty pleas, the considerable mitigation that you have repaid the fees charged, and your deteriorating health issues”
Speaking about the decision, Deputy Immigration Services Commissioner Dr Ian Leigh said,
“These are serious offences that are aggravated by incompetent service … and I am pleased with the outcome in this case.”
Notes to the Editor
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The OISC is an independent public body, established under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, to regulate the provision of immigration advice and services in the UK.
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For further information contact Victoria Bovill-Lamb, Manager Investigations and Intelligence Team at the OISC on 0207 211 1591.