Solicitor jailed for drugs money laundering (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Solicitor jailed for drugs money laundering

7:40am Saturday 24th October 2009 in

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An award-winning Bradford solicitor, who laundered money for a major drug dealer – now serving a 25-year prison sentence – was today starting his own jail term.

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday that disgraced Shadab Khan’s career and reputation was in ruins.

Judge Sally Cahill QC, sentencing Khan, 38, of Staveley Road, Nab Wood, to four years in jail, said he had hidden behind community practices and had brought disgrace upon himself.

The judge told him it was incomprehensible why he had committed the offences, “beyond either sheer greed or a naivety that went beyond stupidity.”

She said the fact he had not given evidence at his trial was “astonishing for a man of his purported good character”.

Judge Cahill added: “The effect on your family will be great. That is sad, but you are the only person to blame for that.”

Khan, a senior partner with the Carlisle Road-based legal firm Solicitors Direct, was convicted last month of one charge of money laundering and two of failing to disclose a suspicion of money laundering. He was cleared of a second charge of money laundering.

Prosecutor Nick Dry had told the court that Khan carried out property conveyances for drug dealer Khalid Malik.

Malik, of Guiseley, who ran a luxury car business in Bradford, was jailed for 25 years in 2005 for a conspiracy to supply heroin worth £7 million.

Mr Dry said Malik had been putting cash into properties, either himself or through third parties, and Khan either knew or suspected what was happening.

He said the offences encompassed Khan’s conveyancing of several properties. Mr Dry said the Malik money which went into the properties totalled £593,000.

In 2003 Khan, who set up his legal business in the wake of the 2001 Manningham riots, was named professional of the year at the Yorkshire Asian Business Convention.

His barrister, Abdul Iqbal, said the impact on Khan’s career and reputation was “profound, far-reaching and long-lasting.”

Mr Iqbal added: “His career as a solicitor is over.”

He said disciplinary proceedings would follow.

Mr Iqbal said Khan was of previously impeccable character. All of his family were high achievers and their reputation was affected as well as his own.

Two other men – Shafiq Rehman, 45, of Wilmer Drive, Heaton, Bradford, and Parmjit Singh, 61, of Kirklees Drive, Farsley – who were convicted of one charge of obtaining a money transfer by deception, were each sentenced to 200 hours community service.