Vancouver, Canada (Date) – Brijesh Mishra, an Indian immigration agent, has been sentenced to three years in jail after pleading guilty to immigration offences related to a scheme involving fraudulent college admissions for Canadian visas. The sentencing took place in a Vancouver courtroom, according to a report by CBC News.
The investigation by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) revealed Mishra’s involvement in providing fake college admission letters to prospective international students from India between 2016 and 2020. Mishra, 37, admitted to three charges under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, including misrepresentation and communicating false information.
During the court proceedings, Mishra expressed remorse, stating, “I’m sorry. I cannot change the past, but I can make sure I do not do it again in the future.” He was arrested in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023, while on an expired tourist visa.
Both the prosecution and defence recommended a three-year prison sentence, which the judge deemed sufficient. Mishra’s time in custody since his arrest in 2023 will be counted as time served, resulting in an additional 19 months to serve.
Gagan Nahal, Mishra’s defence lawyer, acknowledged his client’s remorse, stating, “He did show genuine remorse. The pleas that were entered today were clearly a demonstration of his remorse because he did have a right to run a trial in this.”
Twelve victims came forward during the CBSA’s investigation. Mishra’s deportation to India is expected after serving his sentence in Canada, where he faces further criminal charges, including human smuggling, with a potential maximum penalty of death.
According to an agreed statement of facts between the crown and the defence, prospective students, mostly from Punjab, India, were referred to Mishra by family or friends. Mishra would facilitate their applications to Canadian schools, taking fees for various services without providing genuine admissions.
Upon arrival in Canada, students would discover they were not admitted to the schools they were promised. Mishra’s responses varied, sometimes assisting in enrolling them elsewhere, while in other cases, avoiding contact with victims and their families.
The CBSA continues its efforts to locate all potential victims of Mishra and other fraudsters, with a focus on assisting genuine students to complete their studies in Canada.
