Immigration Officer Accused of Fraudulently Securing UK Visa in Corruption Probe; Six Other Officers Charged

Due to the actions of six immigration officers who allegedly stole from migrants and laundered money while on duty, the Home Office is under renewed scrutiny regarding trust, oversight, and recruitment.

Besmir Matera (36) of Reigate, Surrey, is among the six officers who were charged and has had multiple offences brought against him, such as conspiracy to commit theft, misconduct in a public office, and concealing or transferring criminal property.

He has also been accused of obtaining a visa to stay in the UK by means of a false statement and possessing identity documents with intent to misuse them.

This has caused increased media and public attention to the case.

The other five officers, Lee-Ann Evanson, John Bernthal, Ben Edwardes, Jack Mitchell and David Grundy, also have very similar charges against them involving stealing, misusing their authority as officers and concealing or transferring criminal property.

The Home Office and CPS Respond

The allegations have been expressed as being of the highest level of concern by the Home Office, which confirmed that the six officers in question were all suspended immediately upon being made part of the investigation.

A spokesperson for the Home Office also stated that the department expects its employees to adhere to the highest standards and that any breach of these standards will be dealt with "without delay".

Malcolm McHaffie of the CPS Special Crime Division stated that there was enough evidence to initiate criminal proceedings against the accused and that such a prosecution would be in the public interest.

Mr McHaffie went on to say that the CPS had been in close cooperation with the Home Office Anti-Corruption Criminal Investigations Unit during the entire length of the inquiry.

Court Appearance Scheduled

The six defendants all have a court appearance scheduled for 29 January 2026, at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

As these allegations are still unproven at this time, the CPS has advised members of the public that the defendants are entitled to a fair trial and cautioned against making any public comments, as they may create prejudice concerning the case.

Wider Implications for the Immigration System

In recent years, both the alleged theft of funds from vulnerable migrants and an alleged lapse in appropriate recruitment at the Home Office were subjects of intense media interest. If the evidence supports such claims, then the questions about how the Home Office performs its functions (particularly relating to how it recruits staff and oversees its operations) would become even more pronounced.

A charge of misconduct in a public office is a very serious offence at common law and could result in a life sentence if convicted in the Crown Court. Therefore, when combined with the charge of involvement in the criminal courts and the potential for abuse of the Proceeds of Crime Act, this case raises significant concerns regarding the oversight and vulnerability of the agencies responsible for protecting migrant workers while simultaneously enforcing UK immigration law.

It should also be noted that the consequences of the case will not just affect the individuals involved but will also impact public confidence in the policies and procedures concerning border enforcement and the integrity of the UK immigration system.