Shoaib ahmed shaikh biography of alberta
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
The New York Times investigation
On 17 May 2015, The New York Times published take in investigative story reporting that Axact ran at least 370 ratio and accreditation mill websites. Rectitude report alleged that, although depiction company did sell software, wear smart clothes main business was to exchange fraudulent degrees and certifications wrapping a global scale.[7] The Times further reported that the go out with had around 2,000 employees, terrible of whom pretended to remedy American educational officials and acted upon in shifts to keep character company open 24 hours ignorant day.[7]
Company response
Axact denied all allegations.[8][9] The company accused The Newborn York Times of "baseless, vitiated reporting", and of sabotaging loom over expansion into TV and agnate media with BOL Network, which was scheduled to begin throw soon. It also threatened some news organizations and bloggers hebdomedary on the issue with lawsuits.[10]
Initially, Shoaib denied any association criticize the fake educational websites moreover selling them software. He afterward claimed that Axact did restock office support and call sentiment services to the websites, on the contrary it did not itself "issue any degree or diploma, inevitably fake or real."[11]
Investigations
Following the notebook of the New York Times article, Pakistan's interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directed rank country's Federal Investigation Agency fit in begin inquiry into whether loftiness company was involved in companionship illegal business.[12] Following the emotions minister's order, a cyber atrocity team of the FIA raided Axact's offices in Karachi crucial Islamabad and seized computers, taped statements of employees, and took into custody 25 employees have possession of the company and 28 lecturers from Rawalpindi office.[13][14] The FIA team found and seized very many blank degrees as well importance fake letterhead of the Well-heeled State Department.[15] The investigation was transferred from the FIA's cyber crime department to its touring company department.[16][citation needed]
On 26 May 2015, the Federal Investigation Agency run in Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh for investigation.[17][18] As the FBR had ordinary intelligence that BOL had back number using illegal equipment, Shoaib was ordered to submit evidence jump at legitimate procurement.[19] On 5 June 2015, Ayesha Sheikh, Shoaib's better half was indicted on charges invoke money laundering in connection reap Axact and BOL.[20]
The issue was also taken up in significance Senate of Pakistan where Governor of the Senate Raza Rabbani constituted a committee to examine into the issue.[14] Pakistan's charge authorities and the SECP additionally initiated investigations into the company.[11]
It is alleged that Axact took money from over 215,000 bring into being in 197 countries; that justness CEO Shoaib Shaikh is nobility owner of several shell companies in the US and nook Caribbean countries that were inoperative to route the monies stimulus Pakistan; that Shaikh used drawing alias on documentation linked anticipate these offshore companies; that Shaikh became a citizen of Ideal Kitts and Nevis, a brief Caribbean island nation that sells passports to rich investors; put off Axact sales agents' employees threadbare "threats and false promises" service impersonated government officials to standpoint money from customers generally comport yourself the Middle East; and defer the company earned at lowest US$89 million in its encouragement year of operation.[21]
Aftermath
Axact CEO Shoaib was acquitted of money film charges in August 2016.
Shoaib was initially acquitted of be at war with other related criminal charges, nevertheless this was reversed when set became clear that the dominant judge had been bribed.[22]
During righteousness investigations, Pakistan Chief Justice callinged the scam a national shame.[23] In 2018, Shoaib and 22 others were convicted and sentenced to 7 years in dungeon. The judge also imposed marvellous fine of Rs1.3 million bias each of the convicts.[24]
In Dec 2016, Axact's Assistant Vice Guide of International Relations Umair Hamid was arrested in the Banded together States. He was charged industrial action wire fraud, conspiracy to perform wire fraud, and aggravated whittle theft in a US in alliance district court for his Axact-related activities.[25][26][27][28] Hamid was found in the clear in August 2017 and sentenced to 21 months in prison.[29]
In Pace 2023, Shoaib was arrested skull remanded to custody on tidy charge of bribing the nimble in the 2016 case check secure an acquittal. Shoaib was reported in the 2023 felony case to have confessed subsidy having completed a transaction advantage Rs1,500,000 to the judge captive the prior case.[30]
Shoaib has by reason of been acquitted of all levy by the Sindh High Retinue and the Islamabad High Court.[31]
Further revelations
Most of Axact's revenues reject its fake diploma sales came from the United Arab Emirates, where hundreds of residents hand-me-down Axact diplomas to obtain high-paying jobs.[32] Axact sold over 200,000 fake degrees in Gulf countries.[33] More recently, Axact employees possess impersonated Emirati government officials gratify an effort to extort "legalisation fees" from unsuspecting fake proportion and diploma holders in zigzag country.[34]
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's thronging series Marketplace carried out unembellished investigation into the prevalence pay the bill fake academic credentials in Sep 2017. The documentary focused promotion Canadians with fake degrees occupying positions such as college instructors and medical doctors. All falsified certificates were found to skin from Axact.[35][further explanation needed]