Haj conman caught

Mohammed Faruk Ahmed of Qibla Haj Kafela in court on cheating charges
Emdad Rahman

The rogue trader at the centre of the Haj scam that defrauded hundreds of Muslim pilgrims has appeared at Thames Magistrates court. Mohammed Faruk Ahmed, 41, has been accused of defrauding hundreds of Muslim Haj pilgrims out of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The ex proprietor of Qibla Haj Kafela was at the centre of a four-month police investigation. More than 320 people contacted the police authorities, claiming that Qibla Haj Kafela had embezzled pilgrims passports and money.

Qibla Haj Kafela was based in Brick Lane, on Old Montague Street, and was set up and promoted as a specialist Haj service provider arranged annual trips to Mecca undertaken by pilgrims.

Ahmed stands accused of dishonestly taking advance monies and documents, and failing to provide services paid for by disappearing without notice.

During the course of the thorough search for Ahmed, investigating officers in Tower Hamlets seized frozen cash held in overseas bank accounts and recovered 300 passports.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said Ahmed, of Brick Lane, appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court.

He faces charges of fraud by false representation and money laundering. Ahmed was remanded in custody until April 2.

On 25 November 2008, Channel S held a telephone interview with Ahmed, who was in Bangladesh. He said that he was let down by a person who was going to arrange the visas and because he feared a backlash from the pilgrims, he panicked and fled to Bangladesh.

Ahmed asked pilgrims for their forgiveness.

Abdal Ullah (pictured left), Tower Hamlets Lead Councillor, cleaner, greener safer has been involved with community policing for over 10 years. The cabinet member said; “I have never been so personally touched by a crime as I was by the perpetrator of this heinous fraud.

“The perpetrator not only conned over 300 people, he assaulted a whole community. Pilgrims who had scrimped and saved for years had their dreams dashed by this cowardly act.

“We are all indebted to our law enforcement for the endeavour dedicated to catching this person.

Tower Hamlets Council have disclosed that a meeting is due to be announced, whereby councillors will meet with Haj service providers and discuss ways to regulate services for pilgrims.

“It was only a matter of time,” a woman who we chose to call Nishu said.

Nishu’s uncle was an affected pilgrim. “He was devastated and depressed, he is worried that he may not live until the next Haj.

“We have forgiven Faruk Ahmed, but it’s very hard to forget. Hopefully the law will give him what is due to him.”

The Haj is a yearly pilgrimage to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, in Saudi Arabia. The annual event is the single greatest congregation of people on earth and is an obligation upon all able Muslims.