Nurse's $130K Visa Scam Nets 18 Months' Jail

A former nurse, identified as Sunitha Kemlo, 48, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after running the UK end of a sophisticated international visa fraud operation that swindled migrant workers out of over £105,000 (approximately $130,000 USD) with false promises of UK jobs and sponsorship.

Kemlo, a mother-of-two and a British national residing in Stirling, pled guilty at Stirling Sheriff Court to defrauding victims between August 2022 and December 2023. Court and official records indicate her nationality as British, and her country of residence as Scotland. While details of her specific ethnic identity were not a focus in the court proceedings, her name suggests a possible South Asian heritage. She was officially listed as a Nurse in company records.

Sheriff Euan Gosney, in delivering the sentence, emphasized the need for deterrence, stating Kemlo played "an essential role in the operation of a sophisticated scheme" that undermined the integrity of the UK’s immigration system.

Focus on Victims: India and Nigeria Confirmed, No Mention of Bangladesh

The extensive police and Home Office investigation confirmed that victims were located both abroad and within the UK, specifically citing individuals in India and Nigeria. These hopeful migrants, including those in the health and social care sectors, paid substantial fees ranging from £3,000 to over £13,000 for forged "certificates of sponsorship" and non-existent job placements. As of the current date, official court reports and public records reviewed do not mention any victims or individuals involved from Bangladesh in connection with Kemlo's specific fraud case involving her company, BizzNurse Ltd. The total number of affected individuals across all targeted nations remains unknown.

Mastermind on the Run

Despite Kemlo's jailing, the alleged mastermind behind the entire operation remains at large. Joanne Ritchie, the depute fiscal, told the court that Kemlo was not at the top of the hierarchy and was working with a man named John Mwanyali, who is currently believed to be in Zimbabwe. Mwanyali, whom Kemlo presented to clients as an immigration lawyer, received the vast majority of the fraudulently obtained funds—over £96,000—while Kemlo was paid around £17,000 as a "salary." The ongoing investigation aims to trace and apprehend Mwanyali, and it is anticipated that the Home Office and relevant international agencies will seek his extradition to face justice.

The Fraudulent Operation

Kemlo utilized her initially legitimate company, BizzNurse Ltd, which she founded in 2016, to execute the scam. Victims, many of whom were already in the UK on student visas hoping to transition to work visas, realized they had been conned when they contacted the supposed employers—care services across England, Scotland, and Wales—only to find the job offers and sponsorship certificates were fabricated. Some victims even undertook long-distance travel in their home countries for non-existent "biometric appointments."

Kemlo, a first offender, was described by her defense as suffering from "extreme paranoia," and her lawyer noted she had repaid some of the money. However, a social background report highlighted that she showed no remorse for her actions. The current sentence and her arrest mark a significant step in the wider government effort to tackle immigration fraud, exemplified by recent awareness campaigns like the "Visa Fraud Ton Bacho" initiative launched in India to protect citizens from similar scams.