The director of a North West Hajj company has been jailed for 14 months for claiming his company was ATOL protected and misleading customers about the quality of accommodation and return flights.

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 20 April 2015, assisted by Tameside Trading Standards.

At Leicester Crown Court yesterday, Babur Hussain, aged 53, of Lees Road, Ashton-under-Lyne – who at the time managed Ashton Hajj & Umra Limited based at 58 Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside – was convicted of four offences under the Fraud Act 2006.

Sabir Raza, aged 56, of Lees Road, Ashton-under-Lyne – 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 31 January 2017.

The company, which also trades as Ashton Travel, was also found guilty of four offences under the Fraud Act 2006. It will be sentenced at a later date, following confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Councillor Barbara Dring, Chair of Birmingham City Council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said, “Our Trading Standards team has led the way nationally on cracking down on unscrupulous Hajj tour operators, and they are here to protect Hajj pilgrims before, during and after their pilgrimage.

“Birmingham City Council has successfully prosecuted such operators for a number of years, and we are finding more operators like these who are trading nationally through the internet or advertising.

“I hope this case reinforces our message that we will continue to investigate and prosecute rogue traders exploiting pilgrims going to Mecca.

"We want pilgrims to know that we take their concerns seriously, understand their problems and will work with our partners to tackle this area of criminality.”

Detective Sergeant Kevin Ives, who works for the City of London Police, said: “The City of London Police has actively run Hajj fraud awareness and enforcement campaigns for several years as this under reported crime is known to have a real and devastating effect on victims.

“Yesterday’s result is an example of some excellent multi-agency work; Birmingham Trading Standards were able to successfully pursue this prosecution, following a joint arrest operation facilitated by the City of London Police.

"These offenders have now been brought to justice and the result should help to reassure victims that law enforcement takes this crime seriously.”

Ashton Hajj & Umra Limited will be sentenced at a later date, following confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 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.

Altaf Arif, is a member of the Licensed Hajj Organisers (LHO) group, a self regulatory body launched at the House of Commons in 2016.

The organisation is supported by the Council of British Hajjis.

Mr Arif said, "We urge all Brothers and Sisters to Protect themselves from rogue Traders and purchase Hajj and Umrah packages directly from Licenced Hajj Organisers, companies who are authorised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and hold a valid ATOL Licence.

"We will soon be releasing a Licenced Hajj Organisers Directory of companies who are ATOL protected and hold valid Ministry of Hajj and approved licences and are authorised to sell Hajj and umrah Packages."