A BRADFORD doctor has been jailed for nine years for playing a leading role in a plot to send £3.5 million of criminal cash out of the country.

Zakir Ahmed's wife and co-accused, Manjula Salian, wept loudly as she was locked up for three years for her part in the money laundering scam.

A third defendant, Mohammed Ibrar, was also jailed for three years. He too was led weeping to the cells.

The married couple, both doctors who qualified in India, had left their teenage daughter homeless because their house in Nab Wood Drive, Shipley, was being repossessed, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon.

All three defendants were convicted by a jury after a four-week trial of converting criminal property, between January 1, 2010, and April 2, 2011.

Jonathan Sandiford, prosecuting, said Ahmed, 47, was linked to £3.5 million of illegal money.

He absconded to Estonia, abandoning his wife and child, but was arrested there in August last year and extradited back to the UK.

Salian, 49, was connected to £1.4 million of criminal money and Ibrar, 37, of Healey Lane, Batley, to around £150,000.

The court was told the plot involved setting up a series of fake companies to launder criminal money and transfer it abroad.

The money went to a number of countries, including China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and India.

Imran Khan, barrister for Ahmed, said he had practised professionally for seven years in India but was unable to obtain work at a similar level in this country.

He was employed as a trainee doctor at St Luke's Hospital, Bradford, and did sub-contracted work.

Ahmed became involved in the scam when he ran up debts he could not repay.

"He tried to back out but he was not just coerced, he was intimidated," Mr Khan said.

"He was a cog in the scheme of things. He was acting under instructions.

"He understood it from the outset as tax evasion. There was no direct link with criminal activities such as drugs and robberies."

When the police came after Ahmed, he panicked and ran away.

The court heard the couple's marriage was "on the rocks."

Frida Hussain, barrister for Salian, said the couple's teenage daughter was at risk of having both her father and mother in jail.

Salian worked as a doctor in India, tending to people in remote villages.

But she was a stay-at-home mum in the UK, who may well not have known the extent of her husband's criminality.

"There is no evidence that she was controlling or influential in any way in what was happening," Miss Hussain said.

Stephen Utley, for Ibrar, said there would be "devastating repercussions" for himself and his family if he was jailed.

He was a father of two children and carer for his mother and had brought shame and disgrace on his family.

Judge David Hatton QC told Ahmed: "You are a confidence trickster but you did not con me, and more importantly, you did not con the jury."

He said of Salian: "You were convicted by the jury of playing a knowing role in your husband's offending."

After the case, Detective Inspector Ian Lawrie, from West Yorkshire Police's Economic Crime Unit said: "West Yorkshire Police will actively pursue the professional money launderers whose activities help motivate and assist lifestyle criminals. That pursuit will continue even if, as in this case, it crosses international boundaries.

"Zakir Ahmed facilitated the laundering of millions of pounds in cash through his fake businesses. Despite fleeing to Estonia he was captured and was today sentenced to a substantial term of imprisonment.

"His wife Manjula Salian played a pivotal role in assisting her husband, as did Ahmed’s criminal associate Mohammed Ibrar.

"West Yorkshire Police welcome the sentences handed out today for what was a complex and thorough investigation."