Umesh Patel gets nine months' home detention sentence for immigration fraud

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

A 59-year-old man has been sentenced to nine months' home detention with six months' post-detention conditions following a major investigation into a long-running immigration fraud scheme.

Umesh Patel appeared in the Waitākere District Court on Wednesday for sentencing and pleaded guilty to multiple offences linked to creating false employment arrangements to support visa applications for foreign nationals.

Applicants were charged between $10,000 and $30,000 for Patel's services.

They were instructed to deposit money into company accounts under the guise of business income, which Patel then returned to them as wages - minus PAYE deductions - to create the illusion of genuine employment.

These falsified transactions were used to mislead Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and secure visa approvals.

While some of Patel's businesses initially operated legitimately, he later used them to fabricate jobs and submit fraudulent documents to INZ.

"This was a calculated and exploitative scheme that undermined the integrity of New Zealand's immigration system," said Steve Watson, general manager of Immigration Compliance and Investigations.

"While some of the individuals involved may have performed limited work, in many cases there was never any intention to provide real employment. This type of offending is serious and will not be tolerated," he said.

Patel also enlisted the help of associates and individuals who had previously gained residence through his scheme, registering them as company directors.

These individuals had limited or no actual control over the businesses, while Patel retained operational oversight and decision-making authority.

According to INZ, this approach allowed him to conceal his involvement and expand the scale of the offending.

INZ is continuing to assess the immigration status of individuals affected by the scheme.

"INZ is committed to upholding the integrity of the immigration system and ensuring it operates fairly for all," Watson said.

"This case demonstrates that those who deliberately mislead immigration authorities and exploit the system for personal gain will be identified and held to account."