Babur Hussain, 53, the director of a Hajj and Umra Travel firm was found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment at Leicester Crown Court yesterday (31 January 2017).
Birmingham City Council brought the prosecution following a joint operation between Birmingham Trading Standards and the City of London Police.
Babur Hussain, resident of Lees Road, Ashton-under-Lyne – who at the time managed Ashton Hajj & Umra Limited based at 58 Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside – was convicted of four offences under the Fraud Act 2006.
Sabir Raza (56), of Lees Road, Ashton-under-Lyne – a sales person with the firm – was also found guilty of four offences under the Fraud Act 2006, received an 11-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 180 hours’ unpaid work. Both Hussain and Raza pleaded not guilty to offences at an earlier hearing.
The company also trades as Ashton Travel, found guilty of 4 fraud offences and will be sentenced at a later.
Anyone who has concerns about Hajj travel packages or thinks they may have been a victim of Hajj fraud can contact: at CitizensAdvice.org.uk/consumer
f you are booking a flight-based package make sure your travel company is ATOL (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Original News Source/For Further Reading: BirminghamNewsRoom