Owner of NAMI Immigration Inc. in Ontario, Maneet “Mani” Malhotra, was found guilty under section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Following an investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), a court in Edmonton made the ruling. Malhotra has been sentenced to eighteen months of restricted release, with six months of home arrest and a $148,000 victim reparations order, due to her actions, reports CTV News.
This legal drama began in 2019 when the Canadian Security Agency (CCSA) opened an investigation into Malhotra’s business practices. The investigation was brought about by a recommendation from the Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office of the Alberta government. Two people had sent large amounts of money—$30,000 and $45,000, respectively—to Malhotra in the hopes of finding work in Alberta, the inquiry found, according to Canada Newswire. But Malhotra forced her customers to get fake pay stubs by entangling them in a fraudulent scam, rather than helping them find real jobs. A thorough investigation revealed a long list of unlawful activities, including the issuing of fictitious employment offers, document fabrication, and disregard for the necessary submission procedures required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Importantly, CTV says Malhotra’s business did not fulfill the requirements set forth by IRPA since it did not have the registration of an immigration counselor and a practicing lawyer. When the CBSA later executed a search warrant at NAMI Immigration’s location in late 2019, they discovered more client data and damning information, including falsified immigration paperwork. Malhotra was later arrested in Mississauga, Ontario, after being formally charged with visa fraud in April.
The CBSA’s regional director general for the Prairie Region, Janalee Bell-Boychuk, reaffirmed the organization’s unwavering dedication to battling those who attempt to take advantage of Canada’s immigration laws. She underlined how crucial it is to destroy phony immigration schemes in order to protect potential immigrants from exploitation and maintain the integrity of Canada’s borders.
Under the purview of Section 921 of the IRPA, Canada Newswire says only duly authorized individuals are sanctioned to levy fees for the provision of immigration advice. The CBSA underscored its indispensable role in upholding the integrity of Canada’s immigration system and holding accountable those who perpetrate fraudulent activities within this domain.
