'Interpreter' convicted

A fraudster who earned £30,000 working as a fake court interpreter in 140 cases, despite having no qualifications, has been given a two-year suspended sentence. In 2012, Mirwais Patang faked qualifications to register his services with Capita, then worked on 88 cases between 2012 and 2016, earning £35,574. In 2014, he stole the identity of a highly qualified interpreter and earned over £30,000 working on 52 cases. Patang was also ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.

13 February 2021