CRIME chiefs yesterday vowed to strip the assets - including expensive sports cars and an extensive property portfolio - from shamed Bradford businessman Aqeel Khan, after he was jailed for six years.
Khan, 38, built up a fleet of high performance cars, including an Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Porsches and a Mercedes-Benz, as he funded a lavish lifestyle from a multi-million pounds insurance and property fraud, and money laundering.
Khan, of Upper Penny Hill Barn, Lane End, Clayton, was locked up by a judge at Leeds Crown Court this week after admitting conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and possessing articles for use in fraud. Three associates received custodial sentences.
He also admitted contempt of court by "flagrantly and persistently" breaching the terms of a proceeds of crime restraining order to prevent him from disposing of his assets after his arrest.
The court heard Khan sold, through one of his companies, an Aston Martin DBS V12, which he had bought for £95,000. After paying off the leasing company, the balance of £9,390 was paid into a bank account linked to a brother of Khan. He also admitted trying to hide
rental income from properties.
But yesterday, a spokesman for the National Crime Agency, which investigated Khan, said financial investigators would be identifying all benefits from Khan's criminality and setting a figure they would seek through Proceeds of Crime court proceedings.
The NCA case officer who led the investigation said: "There is no doubt he has led a high rolling lifestyle. He had a fleet of very high value sports cars, costing anything up to £100,000, with personalised number plates.
"He used the fraud to put deposits down on two Lamborghinis and a Cosworth Range Rover. He bought himself a barn conversion overlooking Bradford, a very substantial property."
The investigator, who does not want to be identified because of his work, pledged: "This operation has not finished. Our work never stops.
"We restrained a very substantial amount of assets when the defendants were charged and we will continue to investigate anything that comes to light. There will be POCA hearings and we will strip the proceeds from them.
"Criminals work very hard to hide their money. We need information from the public about this sort of individual and we need the support of communities in order to serve them.
"e ask them to ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, if they feel they can help us."
He added: "There are a lot of vulnerable youngsters in their communities. People like Khan are the very worst of role models. They are not role models at all - they are criminals."
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