Home Office investigating after BBC catches lawyer offering to make fines go away
Summary
The Home Office is investigating claims that solicitor Mohammad Alias Yousaf told an undercover BBC reporter he could transfer a £45,000 illegal-working fine to someone else for a fee. Yousaf denies giving dishonest advice, and the Solicitors Regulation Authority is reviewing the BBC’s findings. The investigation also found that at least £150 million in illegal-working fines remains uncollected, prompting Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to order a review of how fines are issued and collected.Key Facts
- The BBC secretly recorded Yousaf speaking to a reporter posing as a mini-mart owner facing a £45,000 fine.
- Yousaf allegedly said he could transfer the penalty to someone overseas for a fee of £4,500.
- Yousaf denies advising anyone to provide false information or put a fine in the name of someone who was not responsible for a business.
- The Home Office is investigating whether the alleged advice breached immigration rules.
- The Solicitors Regulation Authority said it would examine the BBC’s findings for possible misconduct by solicitors or law firms.
- Home Office figures obtained by the BBC show at least £150 million in illegal-working fines is owed to the government.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered a review of how the fines are issued and collected.
- A law enforcement whistleblower told the BBC that identifying the real owners of businesses with illegal workers can be difficult.
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