A JUDGE has voiced fears about the UK’s immigration policy after hearing a brothel boss jailed for running a York vice den may have been in the country illegally for as long as 23 years.

But the UK Border Agency has refused to say whether they will respond to his calls to investigate Rajakumar Ravi, whose seedy prostitution racket was shattered by undercover police officers.

As revealed by The Press yesterday, the Malaysian-born 47-year-old and his accomplice, 45-year-old Chi Peng Iok – both illegal immigrants – were jailed for 21 months for their role in running a brothel in Nicholas Street, off Lawrence Street, one of 11 they operated across the country over a two-and-a-half-year period.

Judge Michael Murphy, who sentenced the pair, called for immigration chiefs to look into Ravi’s background after it emerged he may have been in the UK illegally since the early 1980s.

During Ravi and Iok’s sentencing hearing at York Crown Court, he said he “found it extraordinary” that Ravi could have escaped detection for so long, saying: “So when they say he is an overstayer, that is putting it mildly?

“I would accept that he was beneath the radar if there was any proof that there was any radar switched on.

“I will be inviting the immigration authorities to take a serious look at this situation.”

However, the UK Border Agency would not confirm whether it will take further action, with a spokeswoman saying only: “We do not comment on individual cases.

“Public protection is our number one priority and we are determined there will be no hiding place for these people who come here and break our rules.”

She did confirm the agency had yet to receive any correspondence from Judge Murphy, who did not make a recommendation that Ravi should be deported at the end of his sentence. Iok will definitely be kicked out of the UK once she has completed her jail term.

Although the circumstances regarding Ravi’s stay in the UK remain unclear, it was suggested during his sentencing hearing that he may have been able to take up a string of jobs by using a false National Insurance number.

York MP Hugh Bayley said: “I believe anybody who is here illegally should be deported.

“If people are able to circumvent immigration laws by overstaying, it is completely unfair to those who apply for a work permit or to live in this country on a long-term basis.

“I find it very surprising that this man was able to stay here so long, and there needs to be consistency between the courts and the UK Border Agency to ensure the law is upheld.”

Have your say

Are you concerned about the UK’s immigration policy?