Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Indo-Canadian man fined $20K for immigration fraud

Darpan News Desk IANS, 25 Oct, 2023 01:08 PM
  • Indo-Canadian man fined $20K for immigration fraud

Toronto, Oct 25 (IANS) An Indian-origin man has been fined $20,000 for his role in a scheme that charged newcomers tens of thousands for permits to work in the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Avtar Singh Sohi, 42, pleaded guilty on Monday to misrepresentation under the Canada Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the CBC News channel reported.

The Provincial Court of Manitoba heard that Avtar provided a woman with pay stubs to show she was working for him as a nanny from March 2019 to July 2021 while she was illegally employed elsewhere.

In addition, he also provided her with a number of signed documents that she used as part of her permanent residency application.

The woman, an Indian national, came to Canada on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which is issued after a need for a temporary foreign worker is demonstrated because there is no citizen or permanent resident available to do the job.

"His behaviour erodes the trust of our immigration system and must be denounced and deterred," federal crown attorney Matt Sinclair said.

Sinclair told the court that in September 2019 the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) received information about Avtar's brother Hartar Singh Sohi, an immigration consultant and owner of Abroad Immigration.

In March 2021, CBSA investigators executed search warrants at three properties connected with Abroad Immigration and Education Services -- a Winnipeg company that arranges permanent residency for newcomers in Canada.

Court heard that during the search, the investigators found a work permit issued for an Indian national authorising her to work as a nanny for Avtar and his wife.

After surveilling the woman, the investigators found she was working at another place without authorisation.

During questioning, the woman said that her family paid $40,000 for her LMIA, but when she arrived in Canada, she was told there was no job for her.

"She was told that if she wanted to take pay stubs to show that she'd been working for Avtar Sohi as a nanny, she could use them to support an application for permanent residence, but she'd have to pay for the paystubs," the CBC reported quoting Sinclair.

Marty Minuk, Avtar's lawyer, said his client had nothing to do with whatever agreement the foreign national had with Abroad Immigration.

"Clearly, whatever was set up, was set up to have Mr Avtar Sohi get involved in some matter that he really knew nothing about and now he's suffering consequences of it," Minuk told the court.

CBSA alleged in its January 2022 court filings that Avtar and his wife aided Hartar in the "misrepresentation of information on immigration applications".

Further, the couple used their home construction company to invest the money received by Hartar to purchase and renovate homes, which according to CBSA, was done to hide the origin of the funds.

Between November 2016 and January 2020, the Sohis and their companies deposited C$783,827.45 and $9,600 in their bank accounts, according to the filed documents.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Hartar but it doesn't appear he's been officially charged in the case, the CBC reported, adding that it has been told that he fled to India.

Avtar, a father of two children, has been living in Canada since 2006.

The prosecution had argued for a penalty of $50,000 and/or two years in jail for Avtar.

MORE National ARTICLES

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO
The parliamentary budget officer says a single-payer universal drug plan would cost federal and provincial governments an additional$11.2 billion in the first year, and $13.4 billion in five years. The PBO released a report on Thursday that provides an estimate for the cost of a pharmacare program between 2024-25 and 2027-28. It follows up on a previous costing the PBO published in 2017 for a pharmacare plan. 

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO

Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear Hells Angels appeal of B.C. forfeiture ruling

Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear Hells Angels appeal of B.C. forfeiture ruling
The Supreme Court of Canada's refusal to hear a Hells Angels challenge of B.C.'s forfeiture of three clubhouses will "put criminals on notice," the province's pubic safety minister says. The high court ended a years-long court battle on Thursday as it refused to hear an appeal of the seizure of the clubhouses in East Vancouver, Nanaimo, and Kelowna.

Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear Hells Angels appeal of B.C. forfeiture ruling

Canada committing $10M in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza as Canadian flights leave

Canada committing $10M in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza as Canadian flights leave
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is giving an initial $10 million in humanitarian assistance for urgent needs in Israel and the Gaza Strip. He also says the first airlift of 130 Canadians that left Tel Aviv earlier today has landed in Athens.

Canada committing $10M in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza as Canadian flights leave

'New wave of building' in Vancouver comes as mayor makes plans to focus on more homes

'New wave of building' in Vancouver comes as mayor makes plans to focus on more homes
The mayor of Vancouver set out a foundation on Wednesday to address the housing crisis in the city, while reducing barriers to building and streamlining regulations. Ken Sim released a seven-point motion going before council that would direct city staff to prioritize new housing construction, allow for increased density around transit hubs, speed up a plan for 26 villages in the city and increase enforcement of short-term rental regulations. 

'New wave of building' in Vancouver comes as mayor makes plans to focus on more homes

Two Canadians killed by Hamas in Israel remembered as proud and loving

Two Canadians killed by Hamas in Israel remembered as proud and loving
Two Canadians killed by Hamas gunmen while attending a music festival in southern Israel over the weekend are being remembered as generous, kind and those who brought love to the world. Friends and family have confirmed 22-year-old Ben Mizrachi from Vancouver and former Montreal resident Alexandre Look, who recently celebrated his 33rd birthday, were two of the hundreds killed when gunman swarmed the music event on Saturday.

Two Canadians killed by Hamas in Israel remembered as proud and loving

Canada to airlift citizens, permanent residents out of Israel in 'coming days': Joly

Canada to airlift citizens, permanent residents out of Israel in 'coming days': Joly
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed Tuesday that Ottawa is planning to airlift Canadians out of Tel Aviv in "the coming days," as conflict between Israel and Hamas escalates. Joly said the government aims to conduct the evacuation using aircraft from the Canadian Armed Forces, and it is working on additional options for people who are unable to reach the airport in Tel Aviv.

Canada to airlift citizens, permanent residents out of Israel in 'coming days': Joly