VoiceForJustice.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 November 2008

Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed

Governor, Bangladesh Bank


Subject: UK Hajj Pilgrims deceived and money transferred to Bangladesh

Dear Sir,

An individual by the name Faruq Ahmad, trading under the name “Qibla Hajj Kafela,” based at 2 Old Montague Street, London E1, had absconded with prospective pilgrims' deposits estimated about £800,000/- (Eight hundred thousand pounds).
 
These pilgrims are mostly elderly pensioners and people who have painstakingly accumulated roughly about £2000/- each, a lifetime savings for most, for the forthcoming pilgrimage to Mecca this December. They are completely heartbroken and have complained to Voice for Justice in the UK for help.

Metropolitan Police in London has so far recovered about 308 passports from the office of “Qibla Hajj Kafela.” 

Voice for Justice (http://www.voiceforjustice.org) has called for a meeting of its executives, the MET Police and the affected Hajjees at 6 Robert Sutton House, Tarling TRA Hall, London E1 OBA at 7pm on Wednesday, the 26th of November, to discuss the issue.
 
In the meantime, Voice for Justice has been informed that Faruq Ahmed has fled UK for Bangladesh. His address in Bangladesh has been reported as:
 
Faruq Ahmed
s/o Late Abdul Khalique
Village: Adoa
Post Office: Atoajan-borkapon,
Thana: Jogonnathpur
District: Sunumgonj
 
It is also reported that Bangladesh Bank has detected a sum of Tk. 25,000,000/- (about £200,000/-) has recently been deposited in Faruq's account in the Mutual Trust Bank of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

I have already reported the matter to the Right Honourable Mr. Stephen Timms MP - the British Minister for Employment, Welfare Reform and Finance, to Mr. Stephen Evans, the British High Commissioner and to Mr. Allan Morrison, the Consul General in Dhaka Bangladesh.

Please advise as to how best and how quickly this money can be returned back to the victims.

Regards.

Dr. Hasanat Husain
Member of the Order of British Empire,
Convenor, Voice for Justice.

On behalf of the Hajj victims,UK.

E-mail: hasanathusain@yahoo.co.uk
Phone/Fax:
+44-208-559-0577      

------------------------------------------------------------

RESPONSE

Dear Dr. Hasanat,

Bangladesh Bank has already taken action on the matter. We have also written to the relevant authorities in England regarding Mr. Faruq Ahmed and we have also written to our High Commission in London.

In fact, Bangladesh Bank took prompt actions and is in contact with the local banks where money might have been deposited by Mr. Faruq.

Best wishes.

Salehuddin Ahmed
Governor, Bangladesh Bank

------------------------------------------------------------
 

Detective Inspector Mr. Des McHugh

Metropolitan Police,

London, UK

 

28 Nov. 2008
 

Dear Sir,         

 

Ref.: CAD …

 

This is in response to your e-mail dated 25th November regarding the above.

 

The statement you sent was read out at the meeting on the 26th of November at the meetings (attended by many victims) at the Tarling TRA Hall. Also, last night I was invited to a 90min. (20-30 to 22-00 hrs) live TV talk show at the Channel S (Sky TV 814) where I read out part of the statement.

 

Victims (who have not yet provided details) were asked to contact 0208-217-4948 and viewers were requested to visit the www.met.police.uk/towerhamlets on Monday, December 1st for update.

 

It is now reported that a good proportion of the money has been located at the Mutual Trust Bank at Dhaka Bangladesh. It is also reported that in the absence of a Met Police Arrest Warrant, the Governor of Bangladesh Bank can not keep the money under seize more than a month.

 

In my previous e-mail I have forwarded to you the e-mail received from HM Consul General of the British High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh in which he wrote '... If the police issue an arrest warrant for this individual it is possible that an extradition request could be made to return him to the UK to face prosecution and that it may be possible to recover the funds as part of this process ...' 

 

I have also forwarded to you the e-mail I received from the Rt. Hon. Minister for Finance, Mr. Stephen Timms MP, regarding this issue.

 

I shall be very grateful if you kindly allow a small team of 3/4 Executives of Voice for Justice to come and meet with you for your suggestions as to how best we can assist the Police to recover the money.  

 

With best regards.

 

Dr. Hasanat Husain

Convenor

Voice for Justice, UK.

 

Address :

32 Woodland Way,

Woodford,

Essex IG8 0QQ, UK.

 

Email : hasanathusain@yahoo.co.uk

 

 ------------------------------------------------------------
 

From: Stephen Timms MP

27 November, 2008

Thank you very much for keeping me posted. I am glad the British High Commission provided you this response. I attended the meeting in Barclay Hall on Saturday. I learned there about most - but not all - of the passports having been recovered by the police, and about money having been located in Bangladesh. 

Please keep me posted.

Stephen Timms MP
Minister for Welfare Reform,
Employment and Finance, UK

------------------------------------------------------------

From: Alan Morrison 
25 November, 2008

I was saddened to hear that so many people, most of them vulnerable, appear to have fallen victim to this unscrupulous individual. I am pleased to see however that the MET police are investigating the matter and that so many passports have already been recovered. It is to be hoped that all the passports will be found and returned to their rightful owners. I also hope that the police will be successful in the recovery of the funds which were deposited and that charges are successfully brought against the perpetrator.

As regards your request … I suggest that you discuss this development with the MET police and pass to them any evidence of these facts. If the police issue an arrest warrant for this individual it is possible that an extradition request could be made to return him to the UK to face prosecution and that it may be possible to recover the funds as part of this process. But please seek police advice on these matters.

Alternatively, I would recommend you seek legal advice in Bangladesh to ascertain whether or not charges could be brought here in an effort to recover the funds and prosecute this individual. 

It is extremely unfortunate that the Hajj pilgrimage of the victims may now be in doubt.  It is my sincere wish that if they are not able to make the pilgrimage this year that they are able to go in the future. I wish you, and the police, the best of luck in solving this crime and in the full recovery of the missing property.

Alan Morrison 
HM Consul General, 
British High Commission, Dhaka.

-------------------------------------------------------------
 

From: Desmond.Mchugh2@met.police.uk
Subject: Voice For Justice
To: hasanathusain@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thursday, 5 March, 2009, 4:00 PM

Dr. Hasanat Husain

Voice for Justice

5 March 2009

 

Dear Dr. Husain,


Just to let you know:

 

Mohammed Faruk Ahmed (16/11/67 – 41 years) of Brick Lane, E1 appeared at

Thames Magistrates' Court today, Thursday 5 March.

He is charged with:
- Fraud by false representation

- Money laundering under the Proceeds of Crimes Act 2002.

He was remanded to custody until April 2.

As the case is now within the Courts I cannot provide further detail.

I recognise that this is an emotive issue. I ask that those affected continue to be patient whilst the judicial process takes place.

 

Regards

 

DI Desmond Mchugh

Detective Inspector,

Metropolitan Police,

London.