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| Faith leader Mehboob Akhtar jailed for multimillion-pound fraud | Faith leader Mehboob Akhtar jailed for multimillion-pound fraud |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A faith leader who used his role as a "spiritual guide" to cover up a multimillion-pound property fraud and tax-evasion scam has been jailed. | |
| Muslim cleric Mehboob Akhtar, of Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced along with nine others including his wife and daughter. | Muslim cleric Mehboob Akhtar, of Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced along with nine others including his wife and daughter. |
| They were found guilty of lying to mortgage lenders to amass nearly £1m of property in a bid to "control and dominate" areas of the city. | They were found guilty of lying to mortgage lenders to amass nearly £1m of property in a bid to "control and dominate" areas of the city. |
| Akhtar was jailed for 14 years at Birmingham Crown Court. | Akhtar was jailed for 14 years at Birmingham Crown Court. |
| Read more updates on this story and more from across Stoke and Staffordshire | Read more updates on this story and more from across Stoke and Staffordshire |
| Following a trial last month, the 60-year-old, of Farman Close in Fenton, was convicted of 11 charges including five of conspiracy to commit fraud and cheating Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) out of £271,000. | Following a trial last month, the 60-year-old, of Farman Close in Fenton, was convicted of 11 charges including five of conspiracy to commit fraud and cheating Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) out of £271,000. |
| The court heard how Akhtar, who was also known as Saint Pirwali Pandariman, masterminded the conspiracy over more than a decade, between 2003 and 2014. | The court heard how Akhtar, who was also known as Saint Pirwali Pandariman, masterminded the conspiracy over more than a decade, between 2003 and 2014. |
| Originally from Pakistan, he was a prominent faith leader in Fenton and helped raise several million pounds in donations to fight poverty through the area's Darbar Unique Centre, the court heard. | Originally from Pakistan, he was a prominent faith leader in Fenton and helped raise several million pounds in donations to fight poverty through the area's Darbar Unique Centre, the court heard. |
| But judge Stephen Eyre said he had "let down his followers". | But judge Stephen Eyre said he had "let down his followers". |
| He said: "[You used] the prestige and devotion of others to facilitate this offending. | He said: "[You used] the prestige and devotion of others to facilitate this offending. |
| "Your role as a spiritual guide provided cover and you financed your activities through donations obtained in part because of your spiritual role". | "Your role as a spiritual guide provided cover and you financed your activities through donations obtained in part because of your spiritual role". |
| The court heard how Akhtar kept his name off most of the paperwork, using his wife, daughter and niece to apply for mortgages. | The court heard how Akhtar kept his name off most of the paperwork, using his wife, daughter and niece to apply for mortgages. |
| When police searched homes and offices connected to the group in September 2012, they uncovered forged documents and emails relating to the conspiracy. | When police searched homes and offices connected to the group in September 2012, they uncovered forged documents and emails relating to the conspiracy. |
| His wife Khadija Akhtar, 54, of Hartwell Lane, Stoke, was convicted of offences including cheating HMRC and conspiracy to obtain a money transfer by deception. | His wife Khadija Akhtar, 54, of Hartwell Lane, Stoke, was convicted of offences including cheating HMRC and conspiracy to obtain a money transfer by deception. |
| She was jailed for four years and three months. | She was jailed for four years and three months. |
| Akhtar's daughter, Rushbamani Akhtar, 29, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years after being convicted of entering into an arrangement to facilitate the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property and conspiracy to commit fraud. | Akhtar's daughter, Rushbamani Akhtar, 29, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years after being convicted of entering into an arrangement to facilitate the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property and conspiracy to commit fraud. |
| Seven others - including two mortgage brokers - were sentenced after being convicted of charges including conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money transfers by deception: | Seven others - including two mortgage brokers - were sentenced after being convicted of charges including conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money transfers by deception: |
| After the sentencing, Ch Supt Martin Evans, from Staffordshire Police, said the sentences were the result of a "very long and complex investigation". | After the sentencing, Ch Supt Martin Evans, from Staffordshire Police, said the sentences were the result of a "very long and complex investigation". |