Brijesh Mishra, an Indian Immigration Consultant, Sentenced to Jail for 3 Years in Canadian International Student Fraud Case

Los Angeles/May 30, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

Brijesh Mishra, clad in a red jumpsuit, stood before a Vancouver courtroom and expressed regret for multiple violations of Canadian immigration laws. The 37-year-old's arrest followed an investigation by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) linking him to numerous cases of fraudulent acceptance letters provided to prospective international students from India between 2016 and 2020.

During his court appearance on Wednesday, Mishra pleaded guilty to three charges under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, including misrepresentation and providing false information. "I apologize," he stated. "I cannot change the past, but I am committed to ensuring this never happens again."

Mishra was apprehended in Surrey, B.C., in June 2023, having entered Canada on an expired tourist visa. Both the Crown and defence attorneys jointly recommended a three-year prison sentence, which was accepted by the judge. With credit for time served since his arrest in 2023, Mishra will spend an additional 19 months behind bars.

Defence lawyer Gagan Nahal remarked, "He genuinely regrets his actions. By pleading guilty today, he unequivocally demonstrates his remorse, despite having the option of going to trial." Nahal also noted that 12 victims had come forward during the CBSA's investigation.

Upon completing his sentence, Mishra is slated for deportation to India, where he faces further charges, including human smuggling under the Punjab Travel Act, carrying a potential death penalty.

No victims or their families attended the courtroom proceedings. Federal Crown prosecutor Molly Greene declined to comment. Meanwhile, in Toronto on March 30, 2023, dozens of international students protested outside the Immigration and Refugee Board, advocating for their rights to remain in Canada.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Greene outlined a consistent modus operandi based on victim testimonies. Typically from modest backgrounds in Punjab, India, prospective students were referred to Mishra by acquaintances. Mishra advised them to apply to multiple educational institutions and provided fraudulent acceptance letters. Payment for his services, including application fees and tuition costs, was often made in cash without receipts.

Upon arriving in Canada, students discovered they had not been admitted to the promised schools. Mishra's responses varied from assisting with enrollment in alternative institutions to evading contact with victims altogether. Many affected students had to reapply to other schools and wait for subsequent academic terms.

Reports indicate Mishra's family in India has faced harassment from families of victims. The CBSA continues its efforts to identify all potential victims of Mishra and other fraudulent agents, aiming to support genuine students in completing their studies in Canada.

 News Source :- Click Here