Driving Instructors Branch of Unite the Union August 2013 | Page 22

Today, Monday July 22, they were given the following sentences:

Bushra Chugtai - three years

Andrew Cursley - 18 months

Mohamed Rafiq Abdulla Ibrahim - 15 months

Javid Iqbal - six months

Haviz Ghani - six months

The five driving test candidates also received sentences ranging from four months to ten weeks.

All the defendants have also been disqualified from driving for two years.

A/DS Ruby Nailor said: "This has been a long and complicated investigation which has resulted in ten people being convicted, and many unqualified drivers being taken off the roads.

"The fraudulant acts of the driving instructor and test examiner allowed road safety across the country to be compromised, and innocent people were put in danger.

"The candidates themselves knew every time they got behind the wheel that they had not passed a genuine test and were not qualified to drive a car. They risked their own lives and the lives of other drivers, their passengers and pedestrians.

"There can be no doubt about the seriousness of their actions, and all partners are pleased that this has been reflected in the sentences passed today.

"I would like to make it clear that the two examiners no longer work at the Nuneaton test centre, and the centre itself was not under investigation."

The DSA’s Head of Fraud and Integrity, Andy Rice, said:

“The driving test is there to ensure that all drivers have the skills and knowledge to use our roads safely and responsibly.

"Anyone who tries to cheat the driving test process is putting the lives of innocent road users at risk. This sentence sends a clear message that driving test fraud is a serious offence and will be dealt with accordingly.

“We have stringent measures in place to detect any fraudulent and activity and work with the police to bring all offenders to justice. Thankfully this type of crime is extremely rare.”