Three men are accused of using ‘bogus colleges’ to profit from helping people enter or stay in the UK illegally.
Muhammad Babar Bashir, 38; Koteswara Nallamothu, 36; and Ayaz Ahmed, 38, are on trial at Manchester Crown Court charged with conspiracy to facilitate breaches of UK immigration law.
The three men deny the charge. Prosecutors allege that in return for cash, the defendants would provide people with a student visa.
In reality, the prosecution say, the defendants did not have any intention of providing an education and instead it was a way of making thousands of pounds for themselves.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Jane Greenhalgh said that the alleged conspirators would take control of failing or bogus further education colleges, in Manchester city centre, Ashton and Nottingham.
After making payment, the students would then be given a confirmation of acceptance of study (CAS), described as the ‘golden ticket’ which should enable them to come to the UK to study.
But the prosecution say there was nowhere for the students to study, and no lessons, teachers or equipment.
The jury were told that St John College in Ashton, Kinnaird College in Manchester city centre and Vernon Community College in Nottingham were being used in this way.
Non-EU students are able to study in the UK under the law at tier four colleges, which have been given permission to provide such courses.
Such colleges have to obtain a sponsor licence from the Home Office, which allows them to offer CAS to students.
Ms Greenhalgh said some people did want to study, but others did not.
Jurors heard that at one college, Home Office officials saw students knocking on the door and trying to get in.
Prosecutors also allege that Mr Bashir ‘hijacked’ the identity of a man from India who had never visited the UK, to ‘distance himself’ from the college before it was closed.
Jurors were told that CAS costs a nominal fee of £14 to cover an administration fee to the Home Office.
The prosecution say Mr Nallamothu was advertising it on his mobile phone as costing ‘£500 with or without English’.
They say this shows he was not trying to attract genuine students, because to study on those courses students have to speak English.
Mr Bashir is also accused of being involved at Kinnaird College, with the college agreeing to supply him with 300 CAS for £500 each.
Mr Bashir, of Bold Street, Moss Side; Mr Nallamothu, of Upper Wortley Road, Rotherham; and Mr Ahmed, of Alfreton Road, Nottingham, have all pleaded not guilty.
