Asylum fraudster exposed

Asylum fraudster exposed

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By Staff Reporter

A ZIMBABWEAN man who shared an office with the BBC and claimed to help asylum seekers with their claims was ripping them off, a BBC investigation revealed this week.

BBC Teesside shared an office with asylum crook Cephas Matanhire.

The BBC described Matanhire as a “complete conman in the same building as the BBC”.

Matanhire – a prominent figure in a Zimbabwean church based in Middlesbrough -- was secretly filmed talking to a BBC undercover reporter posing as an asylum seeker.

He is seen telling the “asylum seeker” that “I do work for the BBC as well”, and pressed to explain his relationship with the broadcaster, he says: “Yes I am a solicitor for the BBC as well.”

The BBC said Matanhire’s claims were “the first of a string of potentially criminal lies he committed in front of the undercover reporter.”

Matanhire is said to have joined the church and has been posing as a solicitor. He took money, the BBC said, “from a number of asylum seekers”.

Colin Sibanda, the husband of one of Matanhire’s victims said he had falsified details on a Home Office form to try and strengthen her case.

The BBC said its undercover reporter was charged £150.

And Matanhire is seen saying: “I have got to lie now, which is not good. But I have got to, I have to explain…”

Byron Rest, an immigration solicitor said: “It’s very worrying; he is preying on vulnerable, scared people. He is a charlatan.”

When Matanhire was confronted, he denied taking money from people or falsifying evidence.

WATCH VIDEO OF INVESTIGATION INTO THE ASYLUM CHEAT. CLICK HERE

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