Indo-Canadian CBSA Led The Complex Investigation That Busted The Batths Alleged Fraud!

The Information to Obtain (ITO) document, which was filed in 2017 to obtain warrants to search Can-Asia Immigration Consultants, Rupinder and Navdeep Batth’s Langley home, and multiple safety deposit boxes. The ITO was drafted by Gary Sidhu, a CBSA officer with the agency's criminal investigations section. In its 110 pages, Sidhu describes in stunning detail the scale of a significant alleged immigration fraud network. It implicates other consultants, as well as 144 foreign nationals and 29 businesses that are named in the document Batths allegedly misrepresented 26 applicants' eligibility to apply under the federal skilled worker category. All 26 applicants became permanent residents of Canada. The investigator claimed that Can-Asia charged cash for fraudulent labour market assessments, ranging from $17,000 to $23,000 and even as high as $60,000. The Batths are scheduled to make their first court appearance next Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Surrey Provincial Court.

By PD Raj With News Files

SURREY – Despite the boat load of charges against husband and wife immigration consultants Rupinder “Ron” and Navdeep Batth, the immigration consultants’ regulatory body the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) is taking a wait and see attitude as the couple remain active members on the ICCRC website.

DESIBUZZCanada contacted the ICCRC for a comment on the Batths’ active status but we did not hear back by press time but we will report on the regulatory body’s response when we hear back from them.

Batths’ company Can-Asia Immigration Consultants offices were raided by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) agents in 2017 and three years later, the agency announced 69 charges of immigration fraud against Rupinder and Navdeep Batth, majority of them against Rupinder.

CBC reported on the weekend on the recently unsealed court document which offers a rare glimpse at how Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers carried out part of their complex investigation into the Batths, including searching their garbage to get vital clues and leads which led to the charges.

The Information to Obtain (ITO) document was filed in 2017 to obtain warrants to search Can-Asia Immigration Consultants, Batths Langley home, and multiple safety deposit boxes.

None of the claims in the document have been tested in court. The Batths are scheduled to make their first court appearance next Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Surrey Provincial Court.

The ITO was drafted by Gary Sidhu, a CBSA officer with the agency's criminal investigations section. In its 110 pages, Sidhu describes in stunning detail the scale of a significant alleged immigration fraud network. It implicates other consultants, as well as 144 foreign nationals and 29 businesses that are named in the document, reported CBC News.

The fraud alleged by Sidhu in the document revolves around different schemes to help foreign nationals obtain temporary work permits and permanent residency, as well as getting employers to "pad" applications to hire temporary foreign workers.

Sidhu describes two trips — referred to as "garbage pulls" — that he and another officer made to the Batths' home in April and May of 2017 to search the discarded garbage and recycling at the house. They rifled through the waste to find torn documents that — pieced back together — gave a picture of the fees collected for Can-Asia's services, and several names of clients to investigate, reported CBC News.

The charges against the Batths include counselling or attempting to counsel misrepresentation or helping people misrepresent facts related to their immigration, knowingly misrepresenting or withholding facts that can induce error in administration, and communicating false information with regard to someone's immigration.

Rupinder Batth faces 54 counts, while Navdeep Batth faces 15.

Sidhu described in the ITO different types of immigration fraud and how they work. Some are straightforward, like falsifying documents to claim more work experience than an applicant actually has — this equals more "points" that can be used for different types of permanent residency applications. The falsified documents could be created out of thin air — as Sidhu claimed one source describes — or made by employers issuing cheques and pay stubs for work that isn't actually done,” reported CBC News

Batths allegedly misrepresented 26 applicants' eligibility to apply under the federal skilled worker category. All 26 applicants became permanent residents of Canada.

The investigator claimed that Can-Asia charged cash for fraudulent labour market assessments, ranging from $17,000 to $23,000 and even as high as $60,000.

According to FINTRAC, Canada's financial intelligence agency, and Royal Bank reports quoted in the document, cash totalling $208,200 was deposited by the couple at three RBC Langley branches between May 2016 and Jan. 2017. Navdeep Batth allegedly told the branch the money was from business proceeds, reported CBC News.

Rupinder Batth in a local newspaper profile years ago described himself as born and raised in both Chandigarh and his ancestral village of Thangrali, he moved to Canada in 1991. He established the Can-Asia Immigration Consultancy Services Inc. in 1997. 

Growing up in India, he felt that there were less opportunities available for people to maintain a satisfactory standard of living and thus wanted to help immigrants have access to the better chances available in Canada. Launching his company has earned him respect from the Thangrali community in India. Can-Asia Immigration Consultancy today has offices in London, Sydney, and in India.

Batth described himself as an avid hockey fan who likes to take his children out to watch Canucks games.

“The support and love of my wife and family has helped my business grow. I never forget where I come from and my village is always in my heart,” he said.