Here are the recent Tribunal Actions by the College. Visit the Disciplinary Proceedings and Tribunal page to view the full decisions.
• Razgar Hasan, of Hasan Consultancy Services in Toronto, Ontario, had their licence suspended on an interim basis by the Discipline Committee upon the College’s motion related to 10 complaints. The RCIC was charged with possession and distribution of child pornography under the Criminal Code and failed to notify the College Registrar of the charges. The allegations considered by the committee in making their decision included the RCIC submitted documents with similarities across multiple clients’ claims at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), coerced and threatened clients, failed to translate documents for clients, misrepresented their credentials, obtained signatures on blank forms, counselled falsification of evidence and failed to notify clients of the IRB intervention. The committee found there to be reasonable grounds to believe that an interim suspension was necessary to protect the public interest and maintain public confidence in the immigration consulting profession until a discipline hearing is held and a final decision is rendered.
• Laura Mariana Santos, of Santos & Associates Immigration Inc., in Toronto, Ontario, had their licence revoked following findings of professional misconduct by the Discipline Committee. The committee found that the RCIC failed to manage their staff, failed to communicate with clients in a timely and effective manner, failed to provide client documents and failed to provide services in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The committee also found the RCIC to be in a conflict of interest based on employment recruitment services provided to a client, engaged in conduct involving falsifying facts to a government official, employed someone without the proper work authorization, withheld wages and counselled a client to misrepresent facts. The RCIC is ordered to provide restitution totalling $6,601 to 2 clients; to pay a fine of $30,000 and pay costs to the College in the amount of $83,217.
• Rishi Kumar Mittal, of Global Hire Placement Services Inc., in Edmonton, Alberta, had their licence revoked following findings of professional misconduct by the Discipline Committee. The committee found that the RCIC failed to clearly distinguish between the immigration services and employment-related services that were offered to clients. The RCIC failed to supervise staff, to provide quality service, to comply with deadlines and to deliver on the retainer services. The RCIC did not conduct clients’ affairs in an efficient and cost-effective manner, failed to maintain adequate communication, accepted payment for services that were not subsequently rendered, failed to properly account for the monies paid by clients and failed to refund the fees paid. The RCIC entered into an Agreed Statement of Facts and Joint Submission on Penalty with the College, related to their admissions and violations. Prior to the settlement being considered by the committee, the RCIC was subject to various practice limitations ordered by the Discipline Committee. The RCIC is ordered to pay a fine of $25,000 to the College.