Somalian Directors Sold UK Rights

FOUR 'greedy and cynical' members of the same family, who were convicted of running a nationwide scam which allowed immigrants to apply for UK passports under false pretences, have been sent to jail. Liban Mohammed Yousif, aged 34, of Holywell Heights, Brightside, his brother Abdirashid Yusuf, 37, of Norwood Drive, Norwood, Mubarak Yusuf, 28, also of Holywell Heights, and their cousin Mustafa Yassin, 29, of Headford Grove, Broomhall, were jailed for a total of 10 years and nine months.

A jury found them guilty of sitting government citizenship tests on behalf of immigrants from all over the country in exchange for cash.

Sentencing them at Sheffield Crown Court, Judge Michael Murphy QC said: "These offences expose the UK passport system to attack. That was not your aim but it was a consequence of what you did."
Immigrants who passed the Life in the UK exam, which tested knowledge of the English language and culture, could apply for UK passports.

The court heard Yousif, Yusuf and Yassin, all originally from Somalia, were directors of the City Wide Learning Centre on Broomhall Street, Broomhall, which was designated a test centre by Sheffield's University for Industry on behalf of the Government.

Between October 2005 and February 2007 they charged thousands of immigrants hundreds of pounds, pocketed the cash then sat the tests on their behalf and issued them with pass certificates.

They used 'middle men' Mehmet Ince, 37, from London, Halil Dari, 35, of Gleadless, Sheptim Ymeri, 37, from London and Mohammad Jafari, 36, of Birmingham, to find them customers from Turkish and Afghan, Yugoslavian and Albanian communities.

The scam was uncovered in 2007 when it was noticed the pass rate in Sheffield for first time applicants was 88 per cent - compared with the national average of 66 per cent.

Ince took money from members of London's Turkish community in exchange for pass certificates from CWL and was given a two-and-a-half year sentence.

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