Travel company director jailed for 14 months for fraud
The director of a Greater Manchester travel firm has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 14 months’ in jail.
Babur Hussain, 53, who ran Ashton Hajj & Umra Ltd, based at 58 Oldham Road in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside was convicted at Leicester Crown Court of four offences under the Fraud Act 2006.
Birmingham City Council brought the prosecution following a joint operation between Birmingham Trading Standards and the City of London Police, in Tameside, Greater Manchester on April 20, 2015, assisted by Tameside Trading Standards.
Sabir Raza, 56, 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 offences related to claims that the firm’s flights and packages were financially protected under the ATOL scheme, misleading customers about the quality of accommodation and return flights back to the UK.
Both Hussain and Raza were also disqualified as acting as a director (or being involved in the management of a company) for five years from January 31, 2017.
The company, which also trades as Ashton Travel, was also found guilty of four offences. It will be sentenced at a later date, following confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Ashton Hajj & Umra Ltd will be sentenced at a later date to enable officers to further investigate its finances, along with those of Hussain and Raza. Compensation for their victims will be considered at that hearing.
