POLICE have spoken of their satisfaction that "great partnership working with overseas authorities" finally resulted in a Bradford money launderer being locked up.

Yasar Hussain, who fled the country while he was standing trial, was sent to jail last week almost 12 years after he was convicted.

The 43-year-old, formerly of Ashburnham Grove in Manningham, was found guilty of 13 counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in December 2012.

The charges related to £312,520.58 paid into business accounts owned by Hussain after he set up a company to manufacture an energy drink styled on the Duracell battery brand.

He had travelled overseas and persuaded four international companies to pay advance fees for the sole distribution rights to the drink in their respective countries.

But Hussain did not have Duracell’s permission to use their intellectual property and used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Hussain found in Poland

During his trial at Hull Crown Court in November 2012, Hussain fled the country despite being bailed not to leave the court precinct.

West Yorkshire Police subsequently traced him to Dubai where he was using a false identity.

However, he was apprehended by Polish authorities in August this year after flying into Warsaw Airport from Dubai.

Hussain was extradited back to the UK last Wednesday (October 9) and appeared before Grimsby Crown Court in front of the original trial judge for sentencing on Thursday last week.

Police pleased Hussain can 'finally start serving a lengthy prison sentence”

Speaking after the court hearing, David Charity, financial investigations manager at West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “Hussain thought he could evade justice by leaving the country in the middle of his original trial, but he was sentenced in his absence.

"I’m pleased that, thanks to some great partnership working with overseas authorities, he was detained and brought back to this country where he can finally start serving a lengthy prison sentence.”

Court case

Hussain had his original sentence of seven years and six months, handed down in his absence in January 2013, confirmed.

He was also given a further six-month sentence for failing to appear in court in relation to the original trial, and another six-month sentence for failing to appear in relation to an unrelated dangerous driving charge dating back to July 2009.

Both additional sentences were ordered to run consecutively.

A further Proceeds of Crime Act order in relation to the £300,000 will be heard before magistrates at a later date.