British University Official Linked to Morocco-Based Financial Scandal

According to The Mill, Joseph Wheeler, former head of recruitment, admissions and human resources at the university, allegedly tried to divert hundreds of thousands of pounds by setting up a financial agreement with ECN, a Moroccan agency specializing in the placement of international students, based in Casablanca. As part of this agreement, funds were directly paid to RSM, a company of which he is a promoter, in exchange for suspicious "marketing" services.

This "Casablanca Pact" would have been signed during a secret meeting attended by Paul Starkey, the university’s executive director of strategy and development. In his WhatsApp messages with a colleague, Wheeler asked "for a transfer of 56,000 pounds to be made to a bank account in Dubai or, failing that, to his son’s account...", it is reported.

After the discovery of these messages, the university requested the opening of an internal investigation to shed light on the destination of these funds. The Greater Manchester police also took over the case. "These allegations are of exceptional gravity and must be the subject of a thorough investigation," said local MP Philippe Brickell, who has requested a discussion on the matter with the Minister of Education.

Pending the results of the investigation, the accused is suspected of corruption and misappropriation of public funds. Offenses that are severely punished in the United Kingdom. The investigations are ongoing and could reveal the involvement of other university officials.