Three men have been sentenced for helping more than 500 people cheat a construction health and safety exam following a joint investigation by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Essex Police.
The investigation began in August 2022 after CITB identified suspicious activity at an Internet Test Centre in Halstead, Essex.
The centre’s co-director, William White, 63, worked alongside Kujtim Osmani, 27, and Artur Dauti, 24, to facilitate fraudulent activity linked to the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test.
The HS&E test costs £23.50 and is a vital requirement for gaining access to construction sites, ensuring that workers understand health and safety standards.
During the investigation, it was discovered that candidates were being charged up to £500 for a corrupt test.
Working with Essex Police, CITB supported a criminal investigation into the operation. On 19 October 2023, Essex Police executed a search warrant at the Whitewaters Training Centre, uncovering evidence of widespread organised fraud.
White, Osmani and Dauti all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud, with White and Osmani also pleading guilty to converting criminal property. A Proceeds of Crime confiscation hearing will also take place later in the year.
£153,000 in illegal profits
White played a leading role in facilitating a total of 511 fraudulent tests and received between £300 and £500 per test, meaning that even at the lowest estimate, he would have gained at least £153,000 in illegal profits.
CITB has now revoked all the identified fraudulent test results and shared the information with the relevant card schemes.
On 29 May 2026, the three men were sentenced as follows:
- William White: two years and seven months’ imprisonment;
- Kujtim Osmani: one year and seven months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work;
- Artur Dauti: one year and 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work.
Christopher Simpson, head of CITB Standards Setting Body, said: “This is another excellent result following a complex and detailed investigation, and CITB is grateful to Essex Police for supporting this enquiry.
“Cheating and fraudulent behaviour are unacceptable, especially when it comes to safety-critical exams and conditions, as that can put the lives of both construction workers and members of the public at risk.
“We are committed to making sure that colleagues and members of the public are kept safe, with an industry that they can rely on. CITB will be working with colleagues from CSCS Alliance Card schemes to ensure that fraudulent tests are revoked and that any cards that may have been obtained fraudulently are also withdrawn.”
Anyone who suspects someone has cheated to get their training and assessment credentials can report it confidentially via: [email protected]
