Three Men Sentenced for Construction Safety Test Fraud

Three men have been sentenced for helping more than 70 people cheat on a health and safety construction exam using a Bluetooth earpiece.

Police began investigating construction test centres across London after the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) raised concerns about an alleged cheating scheme using Bluetooth technology.

During the exam, an earpiece was used to provide answers to candidates, resulting in fraudulent pass results.

Officers worked with CITB and Pearson Professional Assessments to identify the suspects and monitor them using CCTV, location and call data. The three men were arrested and charged within six months of the allegations being made.

Three Men Sentenced

The men were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday 31 March.

Sushil Kumar, 37, of Belmont Road, Redbridge, was sentenced to two years and eight months imprisonment.

Pradeep Sheragar, 35, of Orchestra House, Redbridge, also received a two year sentence, and Jaspal Sani, 43, of Lonsdale Avenue, Newham, received a one year and three month sentence. Both were suspended for two years.

All three men pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

Detective Sergeant Neil Stanley, who led the investigation, said: “Out of sheer desperation, victims handed over hundreds of pounds to gain employment on construction sites even though they were underqualified or had little knowledge of health and safety standards.

“Falsifying results is extremely dangerous and poses a risk to site workers across the city. The greed of Sheragar, Sani and Kumar showed a lack of regard to site workers and their safety.

“I’m pleased our work has resulted in these three men being jailed and will put a stop to the exploitation of vulnerable victims. Officers will continue to work with CITB to root out organised crime groups and halt them profiting off vulnerable people.”

Construction Safety Test Fraud

The CITB HSE test is required to gain a CSCS card which proves that construction workers have appropriate training and qualifications to work on site.

People paid Sheragar, Sani, and Kumar up to £850 to help them cheat the test. The group is thought to have made over £60,000 over several months.

Christopher Simpson, Head of CITB Standards Setting Body, said: “Part of our role at CITB is to ensure that the construction workforce is well-trained and competent, and this means ensuring our testing methods are robust and everyone is completing tests to the standard expected.

“This is a great result following a complex and detailed investigation. Cheats and fraudsters who circumvent these safety critical exams and assessments are putting lives at risk through this type of fraudulent activity, not only the person cheating, but members of the construction industry and public alike.

“CITB will be working with our colleagues at CSCS to ensure that fraudulent tests are revoked and that any CSCS cards that may have been obtained fraudulently are also withdrawn.

“If you suspect someone has cheated to get their training and assessment credentials, please call it out, and help stamp it out. You can report matters confidentially via report.it@citb.co.uk.”

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