FOUR men who oversaw three Manchester colleges where widespread cheating on English language tests was uncovered have been found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud.

The guilty verdicts follow an investigation led by Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations (CFI).

Muhammad Bilal, of Bottomley Side, Swinton, Mehboob Jilani, Shahidul Alam, and Jawaid Iqbal were managers at Secure English Language Test (SELT) centres.

The scam involved arranging for individuals who were proficient in the English language to repeatedly take SELT examinations on behalf of foreign nationals. The fraudulently obtained qualifications would be used to support applications for student visas or jobs.

A fifth man, Shaid Iqbal, who had acted as an ‘agent’, supplying applicants or test takers for the scam, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud before the trial.

The colleges – Innovative Learning Centre (ILC), Manchester College of Accountancy and Management (MANCAM) in Eccles and Apex College — were all accredited to deliver SELT tests on behalf of Educational Testing Services (ETS), a company itself licensed by the Home Office. Evidence of cheating first surfaced when ETS conducted a series of unannounced inspection visits at the colleges in 2013.

At ILC in May, 2013, before ETS inspectors could conduct further checks on candidates, a power cut occurred which Jilani, who was acting as a test administrator, attributed to a ‘fuse blowing’.

In reality, this was believed to be a cover for the ‘pilots’ leaving the room and the real candidates switching into their seats. A similar power cut occurred during an inspection at Apex college in October, 2013 at which Jawaid Iqbal was acting as administrator.

During an unannounced visit at MANCAM in June 2013, where the tests were being overseen by Bilal, ETS inspectors noted one student appearing to use a translation programme during the speaking section of a test, while others were not speaking at all.

Acting on this information, CFI investigators raided the three colleges in December, 2014. This was part of a UK-wide investigation into suspected abuse of the English language testing system. The CFI investigation which followed exposed systematic cheating. Investigators found that mobile phones belonging to Alam, Jilani, Jawaid Iqbal and Shaid Iqbal contained hundreds of incriminating text messages organising and discussing the use of ‘pilots’.

‘Pilot lists’ were discovered at the home of Jilani detailing names of students as well as the pilots who had taken the tests on their behalf. The organisers were charging individuals up to £750 for a test which ETS offered to the public online for £180.

Sentencing on the case was deferred until June 21.

Anthony Hilton, from CFI, said: “These men orchestrated a systematic abuse of the English language testing system, enabling candidates to cheat their way to a qualification – and potentially a visa – to which they were not entitled.

“The group used every trick in the book to try and avoid being caught, even staging ‘power cuts’ during inspections as a cover. The fraud was driven by a desire for personal financial gain, with each bogus test earning the offenders hundreds of pounds.

“Our investigations into English language test abuse are continuing across the country. This case demonstrates our determination to root out all those involved in organised immigration criminality and bring them to justice.”

Andrew West, specialist prosecutor at the CPS said: “Widespread cheating took place across three language colleges, with the defendants going to extreme lengths to profit from this scam by employing crude diversion tactics such as cutting the power when inspectors were present.

“We were able to present compelling evidence to secure their guilt, including several hundred text messages discussing the use of fake test-takers. We will continue to work with partners such as CFI to prosecute immigration fraudsters to the full extent of the law.”

SELT qualifications are required as supporting evidence to demonstrate language competence for student (Tier 4) visa applicants and are administered by a licensed provider on behalf of the Home Office. In 2014, evidence of systematic cheating at colleges accredited by one of these providers (Educational Testing Services) was uncovered.

ILC (Charles Street, Manchester), Apex College (Charles Street, Manchester) and MANCAM (Sentinel House, Eccles) have all closed down.

Mehboob Jilani, 33, of Bloomfield Close, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud

Shahidul Alam, 35, of Whiteoak Road, Manchester, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud

Muhammad Bilal, 35, of Bottomley Side, Swinton, Manchester, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud

Jawaid Iqbal, 39, of Osborne Road, Manchester, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud

Shaid Iqbal, 46, of Victor Terrace, Bradford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud

Sentencing was deferred until 21 June.

Marium Malik, 40, of Manchester Road, Droylsden, Manchester, was found not guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud.

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.