BBC: 'Staggering' trade in fake degrees revealed
Defence contractor FB Heliservices bought fake Axact degrees for seven employees, including two helicopter pilots, between 2013 and 2015. One of these employees, speaking anonymously to the BBC, said soon after he had been given a contract to work on the Caribbean island of Curacao, the local government decided all those working in the territory had to have a degree.
"We looked into distance learning, and contact was made with this online university. It was just something that needed to be done to keep working in the country. Everyone knew they were not bona fide. But no-one had a problem with it."
Parent-company Cobham held an internal investigation into the incident, but decided the purchase was a "historic issue" that "had no impact upon the safety of any of its operations or the training of any individuals in the UK or elsewhere".
"Procedural and disciplinary actions have been taken to address all the issues raised," it added.
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I/C