Things get a whole lot worse for 'bogus college' bosses who profited from illegal immigration as their jail sentences are increased

Three fraudsters who helped run 'bogus colleges' to profit from illegal immigration have had their jail terms increased.

Judges at the Court of Appeal ruled that the sentences handed down to Tashina Nayyar, Muhammed Babar Bashir and Koteswara Nallamothu were too lenient.

Bashir is on the run, a fugitive after failing to show up for his sentencing hearing.

Bashir, 38, from Moss Side; Nayyar, 51, from Chorlton; and Nallamothu, 36, from Rotherham, ran 'bogus colleges' which had no books, equipment or teachers giving lessons.

Instead, they were ran as a way of profiting from 1,300 people who wanted to live and study in the UK, who were otherwise ineligible.

Their 'cash for visas' scam was thought to be worth about £650,000.

Bashir posed for pictures posing on a bed full of money, about £65,000 worth, while £90,000 in cash was found hidden in Nayyar's loft, with a further £29,500 in a safety deposit box.

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The colleges these defendants were involved with were St John College in Ashton, and Kinnaird College in Stevenson Square, Manchester city centre.

Prospective students would hand over cash in exchange for a 'golden ticket' - a confirmation of acceptance of study (CAS) letter - which enabled them to get a student visa.

Legitimate students entering the UK from outside the EU who need CAS for their course usually pay a nominal fee of £14 to cover an administration fee to the Home Office.

But Nallamothu was advertising it on his mobile phone as costing ‘£500 with or without English’.

Tashina Nayyar, who has had her sentence increased by Court of Appeal judges (Home Office)

The colleges were later shut down following a Home Office investigation.

Previously at Manchester Crown Court, Bashir was jailed for six years, and Nayyar was locked up for two years and three months.

Nallamothu was spared jail, receiving a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Now Bashir and Nayyar have both had their sentences increased, and Nallamothu will have to serve a jail term.

Bashir has now been sentenced to eight years; Nayyar to four years; and Nallamothu to three years and 11 months.

After the hearing, the Solicitor General, Lucy Frazer QC MP, said: "This fraudulent conduct deliberately undermined the UK immigration and education systems for the financial benefit of the offenders.

"The offenders abused a system designed to help genuine students from outside the EU.

"I am pleased that the Court of Appeal has agreed that their original sentences failed to reflect the risks that this type of offending creates."

Bashir, of Bold Street, Moss Side, and Nallamothu, of Upper Wortley Road, Rotherham, were previously convicted of conspiracy to facilitate breaches of UK immigration law after a four month trial led by prosecutors Jane Greenhalgh and Huw Edwards.

Nayyar, of Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate breaches of UK immigration law before the trial.