Paralegal Fired After Exposé on Illegal Worker Scam

Published: 18 November 2025 Tuesday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A paralegal who was secretly filmed offering to help businesses evade immigration fines of up to £60,000 has been sacked, triggering a wider police and Home Office investigation into illegal working networks operating across the United Kingdom. The undercover recording, made during a BBC investigation, showed Zohaib Hussain appearing to offer fabricated documents and legal manoeuvres to help employers avoid detection or escape penalties imposed for hiring undocumented workers. Within twenty-four hours of the exposé being broadcast, his employer, RKS Solicitors, announced he had been permanently dismissed and confirmed that the matter had been referred to the police.

The events unfolded inside a solicitor’s office in Huddersfield, where a BBC undercover reporter, posing as the owner of a mini-mart facing a potential £60,000 fine, met Hussain to seek supposed assistance. In the secretly filmed footage, Hussain appeared relaxed and confident as he questioned the reporter about the scale of the fine, the number of illegal workers supposedly employed, and how often enforcement officials had visited the shop. He even asked with a chuckle whether the mini-mart also sold illegal vapes, a comment that underscored the casual tone in which he treated the subject.

The investigation revealed Hussain claiming he could “make documents,” including “business agreements,” to support a defence against immigration penalties. He explained that the strategy would depend on the circumstances but hinted that altering or producing new documentation could help shift liability away from the employer. When asked whether the fine could be transferred into another name, he said such a move would be a “last resort,” implying there were other methods he would attempt first. Hussain told the undercover reporter that his services would cost £3,500 and promised he would “look after us,” making a cutting motion across his throat to suggest that immigration authorities would act swiftly unless the matter was handled carefully.

During the entire meeting, a man known as “Shaxawan” was present in the room. According to the BBC, this individual—who also goes by the name Kardos Mateen—has been identified as a central figure in a criminal network facilitating illegal working across the UK. BBC reporters previously revealed that this network enabled migrants, including asylum seekers, to take jobs in mini-marts and other retail outlets without proper documentation. The network reportedly provided forged business records, organised sham companies, and instructed migrants on how to avoid immigration enforcement. In an earlier meeting with undercover journalists, Shaxawan had claimed he had “customers in every city” and boasted of his ability to confuse immigration authorities by helping clients set up shell businesses or reshuffle ownership records.

In Companies House filings, Shaxawan is listed under the name Kardos Mateen, a man in his thirties who has been director of at least eighteen businesses across northern England, many of them linked to small retail operations. This wide footprint, investigators say, is consistent with a pattern of organised networks using legitimate business structures as fronts to enable illegal working.

Hussain, during the meeting, asked the undercover reporter to share any future immigration enforcement letters with Shaxawan, a request that tied the paralegal directly to the suspected crime figure in a way that has deeply alarmed regulators and law enforcement. Yet in a previous statement to the BBC, Hussain insisted that he had no professional or personal connection with Shaxawan at all. He categorically denied “all allegations, insinuations, and claims” and said he had never encouraged or participated in illegal activity. Shaxawan himself, when contacted by email, said he denied “every allegation, insinuation and claim” made by the BBC and stated that he was not employed by, associated with, or acting on behalf of RKS Solicitors in any capacity.

RKS Solicitors, in a public statement, emphasised that Hussain had been employed strictly as a paralegal under supervision and was not authorised to provide immigration or tax advice. The firm said it had informed the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) of the allegations and stressed that it does not condone unlawful conduct of any kind. The statement underlined the firm’s commitment to professionalism, integrity, and public service but did not comment further on any connection between the firm and Shaxawan. It remains unclear what knowledge, if any, the firm had of Hussain’s activities before the BBC broadcast.

The BBC investigation that led to Hussain’s dismissal is part of a larger series exploring how organised criminal networks have developed sophisticated systems to enable illegal working across British high streets. One key finding was the emergence of Kurdish-linked crime rings that facilitate employment for undocumented migrants in convenience stores, takeaways, and small retail outlets. These networks help migrants obtain forged payslips, business registrations, and tax records, making it harder for enforcement officers to detect irregularities.

The Home Office responded quickly to the reports, announcing an “urgent investigation” involving the National Crime Agency and multiple police forces. Senior officials said the BBC’s findings highlighted a growing problem: organised crime groups acting as a “pull factor” for illegal migration by offering ready-made employment opportunities, falsified documents, and assistance in evading law enforcement. Ministers have insisted that cracking down on these networks is essential if the UK is to maintain control over its borders and prevent exploitation.

As these revelations circulated, politicians from across the political spectrum expressed outrage. Several MPs argued that such networks undermine the integrity of the immigration system and fuel public distrust. Others emphasised the exploitation of vulnerable migrants who often pay large sums to traffickers and criminal intermediaries only to end up working long hours in unsafe or poorly regulated environments. Some opposition MPs voiced concern that the government has not allocated sufficient resources to enforcement agencies, allowing these networks to flourish in towns and cities across the country.

West Yorkshire Police issued a statement confirming that it is “working in close partnership with the Home Office,” which has taken primacy in the investigation following the broadcast. The force said it would assist in gathering evidence and ensuring the allegations are fully examined, though it did not comment on whether Hussain, Shaxawan, or any associated businesses are currently under criminal investigation.

The wider public reaction has been one of alarm, particularly among legitimate business owners who fear that the actions of illegal operators tarnish the reputation of small high street shops. Community leaders in northern England have also voiced concern about the vulnerability of migrants who fall into the hands of such networks, often unaware of the legal and financial consequences they may face.

For now, the sacking of Zohaib Hussain marks only the first visible repercussion of an investigation that appears to have far-reaching implications. As authorities continue their inquiries, attention is likely to shift toward the broader criminal infrastructure that enables illegal working, as well as the potential involvement of professional services, including solicitors’ offices, in facilitating or unwittingly supporting these schemes.

The BBC’s investigation has opened a rare window into a hidden economy operating behind everyday shopfronts—one in which undocumented labour, forged documents, and organised crime intersect. As the legal and political fallout widens, the case is expected to remain under intense scrutiny, serving as a test of how effectively the government can respond to complex, widespread immigration-related crime on the UK’s high streets.