Canada Lays Charges in Largest Immigration Fraud

OTTAWA—Canadian authorities on Wednesday charged an immigration consultant with helping foreigners obtain permanent residency or citizenship in Canada in a huge fraud scheme, police said.

Some 1,100 applicants mostly from the Middle East and their dependents were implicated in the fraud, including 76 who obtained citizenship.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the consultant had allegedly "fraudulently helped individuals create the appearance they were residing in Canada in order to keep their permanent resident status, and ultimately attempt to acquire citizenship."

Hassan Al-Awaid, 57, faces 53 charges for counseling and assisting foreign nationals through fraudulent means to obtain permanent residence status and Canadian citizenship.

He is to appear in court on Friday and faces up to five years in prison and a fine of CAN$100,000 for each count, if convicted



-source inquirer.net