Ananova:
Man faces jail for driving tests fraud
A serial driving test candidate who sat almost 150 tests on behalf of others was facing jail today.
Adolphus Sorhaindo, 63, from Maida Vale, north London, ran a proxy driving test service on behalf of customers who knew they could not pass on their own.
Using a variety of guises, including changing his moustache, Sorhaindo, who is a grandfather, impersonated candidates of all ages over a three-year period.
The ex-bus driver pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain property by deception at Kingston Crown Court on the basis of seven theory tests and 15 practical tests.
But police believe he sat at least 99 practical tests and as many as 143 theory tests on behalf of his customers, all of which he paid for on his credit card.
Clients could opt for a so-called "total package" with both theory and practical tests for a fixed price of £550 all-in.
Sorhaindo paid £5,995 to the Driving Standards Agency with his own credit card before his activities were finally uncovered by a suspicious driving examiner - by which time he is believed to have netted upwards of £50,000.
Sorhaindo is expected to be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court this afternoon.
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Yes - very worrying ST. The fact that it took so long for the authorities to catch on is what concerns me most. Let's face it, this guy was hardly the 'Brain of Britain' and made several stupid mistakes but it apparently took an examiner to recognise his car (having been in it several times before) to raise the alarm. Surely the fact that he used the same card for nearly £6k worth of fees should have been picked up. You'd have thought such basic checking would be an automatic feature of any such system but apparently not!
It's truly scary to think that if this relative 'amateur' managed to acquire licences for so many people, how many more like him are out there doing just the same thing but with a degree more skill and intelligence ?
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This is absolutely appalling, particularly when these crims are driving totally out of control and killing innocent children.
IMHO this situation will not be resolved until National I.D. cards are introduced, which would stop this criminal exploitation of the law in its tracks!!!!
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I read elsewhere that he was passing tests for people of similar appearance using the new style photocard licences so I'm not sure a national ID card would have helped
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Having seen a picture of the guy he is of very distinctive appearance and I can't believe he looked too much like many of his clients. I heard that the poor quality of licence photographs was a major factor in him being able to pass himself off. I would therefore argue that all such documents should require a crystal clear picture and possibly other details such as height, distinguishing marks etc. Personally I'd be happy to have an ID card - even though it wouldn't prevent all fraud/ deception of this type IMO it would certainly reduce it.
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As 9000 says, although large vehicles can obviously be driven through the present system, any system is only as foolproof as the officials running it. Unless the docs are checked properly(and one would think that even cursory checks would have been enough) it won't work. What price Sky Marshals?
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Do we know if any attempt is being made to trace those who have obtained their licence by deception?
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I heard a police spokesman saying they would be endeavouring to trace the recipients however I can't see this being a top priority (they're far too busy investigating morning TV discussion programme hosts and the like) or there being any realistic punishment of those caught.
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We do. The BBC reported that the licences were to be revoked (traced through the test fee payments presumably).
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How are they going to do that when he paid for all of the tests on his own credit card and collected payment from his clients (presumably cash as in most dodgy dealings) separately?
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How are they going to do that when he paid for all of the tests on his own credit card and collected payment from his clients (presumably cash as in most dodgy dealings) separately?
There should be the same credit card details for each "applicant" so it should be easy enough. All of the phoney candidates will have identical cc numbers.
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I was under the impression that records of payment details weren't kept and this was why the fact that the same card had been used again and again wasn't picked up.
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Presumably the master account in Dept of Transport and the credit card company can easily indicate that the card was used on a certain date in a specific location and usually the time of the transaction. From there it would not be that difficult to check out who was the culprit. As I understand it there would be similar physical attributes to aid identification.
If he was stupid enough to use his card he probably accepted cheques from some of his 'clients'. I wonder if he gave receipts!!
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Good stuff. Where I live no need even to have anyone pass the test, just find someone who "knows" someone in the license-issuing dept.
Come on, there are just as many loonies driving around who supposedly passed a test at some time or another.
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Correct Growler - and we need to do something about them too not just ignore both categories of dangerous driver.
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I still maintain that if a National I.D. card had a clear photograph which was backed up by digital iris/finger prints, then much of this crime would be eradicated.
Those of us who are law abiding, bona fide citizens have nothing to fear from I.D. cards and I would welcome their introduction.
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I still maintain that if a National I.D. card had a clear photograph which was backed up by digital iris/finger prints, then much of this crime would be eradicated. Those of us who are law abiding, bona fide citizens have nothing to fear from I.D. cards and I would welcome their introduction.
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I agree my friend. But what happens when you issue them and find that there are 1 million+ people who you don't have any records for and who have been here years. That would be an interesting social and political problem to deal with!
I like the German approach. No ID and no reason to be in the country? - straight on a plane back to 'wherever'. Apparently this is impossible to do in the UK, but I have seen it done in Germany.
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Our government would have amnesties and hand them out to anyone in the world who wants one, Oh how diverse!
What I also wonder about, is these people who look similar sharing a license, I have heard of minicab drivers sharing a license and taxi, where two brothers share an identity and taxi in shifts. They lived in the same house etc...
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ID cards aren't the answer. Here in Australia we have Medicare cards which entitle the bearer to medical treatment. Admittedly there are not high security checks when they are issued but there are millions more in circulation than there are people in Australia. ID cards would be in demand because they would enable people to get things they otherwise would not be entitled to. Next thing is you have a black market in ID cards. Growlers "friend in the licencing office" would be a friend in the ID card office. Forgers would have a great time with them. They forge money and credit cards so they would also forge ID. Then there would be ID card theft. Lose your card and you would have real trouble. Unable to access things you are entitled to while the thief is running up big bills in your name and breaking laws. Massive hassles trying to prove who you are to get your stolen card legitimately replaced while low lifes can buy one under the counter for 200 pound no questions asked.
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Let us hope that the inland revenue will now get him for the unpaid tax.
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Well finding out how many people really are here would be one very big reason for HMG NOT doing so. I don't buy the "if it isn't 100% effective it's not worth doing" argument. After all, the police aren't 100% effective but we still need them and they do at least reduce crime. Anything which significantly reduces the ability to people to break the law seems worth considering to me.
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I.D. cards are a gross infringement of the civil liberties enjoyed asnd fought for by previous generations of British people.
They are the thin end of a huge wedge which will culminate in Big Brother ie the "Government" knowing every detail of ones private life. Look at the suggestions currently being bruited about electronic "tagging" of all motor vehicles for another example!
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Correct - ID cards are an infringement of our civil liberties. The very civil liberties that are being abused and exploited on an ever increasing scale by people who care nothing for our freedoms and whose selfish actions further erode them every day. So, on balance I'd rather have an ID card system than not.
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Agree with you absolutely volvo. And probably 90+% of the population also.
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wonder why "impossible" to do in the UK...?
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As this thread seems to have strayed from the topic of motoring, I'm write locking it.
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Dynamic Dave
Back Room Moderator
mailto:dave_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk
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