MP’s hero jailed for £19m plot to launder money

Abid Hussain, 46, of Old Park Road, Leeds, a director of store chain Abu Bakar Ltd, was part of an operation that serviced international organised crime groups in the Middle East and Pakistan to transfer what was predominantly drug money for criminals in the UK and Europe.

Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton gave a character reference for Hussain, whom he had taken to 10 Downing Street to attend a community heroes reception hosted by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2010.

Hussain and Arshad Hanif, 52, of Montagu Crescent, Leeds, were accused of knowingly taking a large holdall of cash, which was criminal property, to a venue in Birmingham.

Having described Hussain as “moral” and a “very honest person”, Mr Hamilton told the court: “I find that completely unlikely, I was so shocked when I heard that. It was far more likely it was a bag full of leaflets, or some literature, and I understand it was a carrier bag full of Islamic Relief leaflets, and I know that Abid’s very involved with Islamic Relief, which is an excellent charity.”

The pair were each sentenced to two years in jail at a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday, having been convicted of entering into an arrangement to facilitate acquisition, retention, use, or control of criminal property contrary to S328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

In March this year Jalil Ahmed, 36, of The Copse, Moseley; Khayam Naseem Chib, 31, of Rushbrook Grove, Kings Heath; Gary Brockway, 41, of Meadow Road, Stafford; Hussain Aziz, 32, of Kenelm Road, Birmingham; and Sahil Khan, 27, and Arman Zahir, 27, both of Widney Manor Road, Solihull, received sentences totalling over 43 years for their involvement in the same racket.

Serious Crime Prevention Orders were later granted against Zahir, Khan and Ahmed restricting their use of mobile telephones, computers, money service businesses, and the possession of large amounts of cash.

The group used a money laundering technique known as ‘cuckoo smurfing’, where proceeds of crime are transferred through the accounts of legitimate and unwitting customers who are expecting genuine payments from overseas.

A Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) investigation, which took place between May 2011 and March 2012, resulted in the seizure of more than £730,000 of cash and 1.5kg of heroin.

SOCA officers watched as the group moved huge sums around the country in plastic carrier bags. They found the group had laundered around £19m.

Sarah Goodall, SOCA’s regional head of investigations, said: “The crimes that have been committed to generate the huge sums of cash that this group has helped to launder will have a lasting effect on local communities.”

Joanne Jakymec, deputy head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s organised crime division, added: “It should not be forgotten where money that is laundered by men such as these comes from. Organised criminals steal and extort at both home and abroad, and the defendants enabled these ruthless gangs to hide their ill-gotten gains from the authorities. Their sentences reflect the crucial role that they play in these criminal enterprises.”