Former Home Office employee jailed for bribery

A man who abused his position by granting asylum applications for money has been jailed today.

Imran Mulla, 39, was jailed for four and a half years, having pleaded guilty to immigration offences and bribery after manipulating the system to overturn a refused asylum claim.

Another man, Nural Amin Begh, 23, was jailed today for 18 months, for bribery after he paid Mulla to grant his asylum application.

Frances Killeen, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Imran Mulla was in a trusted position in the asylum team at the Home Office.

“He abused that trust to line his own pockets by offering to change the outcome of asylum applications for money.

“I hope this case sends a clear message – the CPS is committed to working closely with law enforcement and immigration authorities to stamp out corruption.”

Mulla worked as an executive officer in the asylum team based in Manchester.

He had completed all his training including courses on security and data protection and counter fraud, bribery and corruption.

He managed a digital caseload and interviewed asylum seekers, considering their applications.

Begh is a foreign national from Bangladesh who was refused asylum on 15 February 2024. He was informed by letter and advised of the appeal policy.

The following day, he was contacted by Mulla, who obtained his details from Home Office systems.

Six days later, Begh transferred £1,500 into Mulla’s account. The pair communicated several times over the following days.

On 13 March, Mulla breached policy to allocate Begh’s case to himself and granted the asylum application.

Begh transferred further monies over the next few months totalling £3,500.

Around the same time, on 7 March, Mulla rang his second target, a Turkish national who was waiting to hear if his asylum had been granted.

Mulla rang the Turkish national, giving a false name, and told the man his application was likely to be refused but he could help if he paid him £2,000. He told the man he would call back later.

The man was concerned about the call so he reported it to his immigration solicitor and Mulla was arrested on 19 March 2024. He made no comment during his police interviews.

While under investigation, Mulla continued to receive money from Begh.

Muller pleaded guilty on 12 March 2025, at Preston Crown Court, to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, unauthorised access to computer material and three counts of bribery.

Begh pleaded guilty on 9 June 2025, prior to his trial starting at Preston Crown Court, to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and two counts of bribery.