A college has had its Home Office licence suspended as part of an immigration investigation.

Border agency staff are reviewing the Manchester College of Higher Education and Media Technology following complaints it had broken immigration rules.

The Cheetham Hill college has been temporarily removed from the government list of organisations allowed to sponsor overseas students.

Overseas students are only allowed to study in institutions on the approved list and colleges must notify the authorities if students miss ten or more classes.

The college’s chief executive is disgraced former lawyer Liaqat Malik. He was struck off after an M.E.N investigation revealed he had a criminal record for dishonesty and had previously been banned from practising as a solicitor.

The college charges up to £6,500 a year for courses include accountancy, business, and law. It shares its premises with cable station DM Digital TV, also owned by Mr Malik. The station was fined £17,500 by watchdogs earlier this year for a ‘misleading’ advert in which a spiritual healer promised to find love for viewers.

A UK Border Agency spokeswoman said: "We regularly check and monitor all sponsors in order to ensure they are meeting their obligations as a sponsor of migrants. As a result of our investigations, suspension action has been taken against over 200 sponsors.

"Where there is a breach of immigration control or the sponsor is unable to meet their duties, we will take action against them."

The college did not return calls from the M.E.N.

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