AN INTERPRETER who cashed in on the misery of illegal immigrants by playing a key role in a smuggling racket has been ordered to hand over more than £1million.

Alvin Chan was in April 2004 jailed for three years for facilitating the entry of three Chinese asylum seekers, but has since served the sentence.

The 59-year-old former police interpreter was paid thousands of pounds for his role over several years.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Chan, of Landale Gardens, Dartford, was said to have been motivated by greed and misplaced loyalty to people of his race.

Making a confiscation order in the sum of £1,008,651 on Monday, Judge Andrew Patience, QC, said Chan had "a labyrinthine array of bank accounts".

As well as his own home, valued at over £366,000, he owned property in Dartford at Jubilee Court and Great Queen Street.

Chan could face a further jail sentence of 10 years if he fails to pay the amount ordered.