A man has been jailed for 18 months after he paid someone to sit the health and safety tests required to obtain the Construction Skills Certification Scheme card and the Construction Plant Certification Scheme card.
Manjit Multani, an Indian national, is also facing the possibility of deportation for illegally working in the UK.
An investigation by the Construction Industry Training Board found he was using the cards to work on building sites across London and Milton Keynes.
Multani has also used fake names in order to work illegally in the UK.
Mr Multani was arrested in February by Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers, but failed to answer his bail.
He was then arrested again on motoring offences when they discovered he was wanted by the police.
Mr Multani pleaded guilty to eight charges including misuse of identity documents and fraudulently obtaining leave to remain in the UK.
Ian Sidney, a fraud investigator at the CITB led the investigation into Multani’s cards and qualifications and his CPCS card was revoked in February.
Sidney said: “The risks these people pose when illegally working in the construction industry are huge, so it’s encouraging to see that those who do brought to justice.
“Fraud is incredibly damaging to the reputation of the industry and worse, it puts people’s lives in jeopardy.
“Building sites can be hazardous if workers do not have the relevant training and qualifications, so it is lucky noone was injured.
“We simply will not tolerate any illegal activities and will continue to work with the police to prosecute fraudsters.”
I’m glad to see this is being taken seriously and they are starting to clamp down on CSCS card fraud, I hear all too often about companies suspecting fake or fraudulently acquired certifications. There was an exposé around this time last year by the BBC although it still seems to be a big issue on construction sites and it’s not just themselves they are putting at risk http://www.initiafy.com/news/when-qualification-cards-cant-be-trusted
Eight charges of identity fraud, motoring offences, failing to answer bail – but he only faces the possibility of deportation. Just deport him!!
This story is a little misleading as he arrest and pending deportation is not soley down to him cheating on a CSCS test – Last time I checked the CITB don’t have such powers! there is clearly a multitude of issues underlying this story rather than as the headline would have you believe.
It is frightening to think this individual managed to obtain the necessary qualifications by paying someone else to take the exam. We do hope greater checks are now being conducted to try and prevent this from happening.
The individual concerned seem to think he is above our laws and will do anything to cheat the system and we think it is very important that after his prison term he should be deported.
I went to Thailand a few years ago and stumbled upon a shop that produced certificates that were reproduction REAL people
who had gained them officially and they were being copied for £25.with the person buying it name on it …when I asked how good were the copies the man said even the paper they use if the same as the university in England and the signatures as well were
actually perfect ….in every way
You can buy anything you want if you have the gall to use it to gain work…NO ONE EVER CHECKS ….
Strange though, no mention of punishment for the person who sat the test for him. Wonder who else they have done that for. Involved in the same crime.
Are no checks done when people are applying for these cards NI, No date of birth, picture of individual, residence, company’s employed by or is it just a money maker venture. there are a number of issues here. Seems like anyone can pay £40 and get a ticket, get someone to sit a test and make a mockery out of the system
Sooner we deport these people without a penny, it might send a message out to all we have had enough and give genuine workers an oppertunity.