The sentencing of Ahsan Shahid, brother of race-hate killer Imran 'Baldy' Shahid, and two accomplices has been pushed back to November. The three men admitted their roles in a fraudulent scheme that targeted elderly victims across Scotland.
Court Appearance and Admissions
Ahsan Shahid, a 41-year-old prisoner at HMP Kilmarnock, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, September 25. He had earlier admitted his role in the operation at the same court. Sean Singh, 21, and Duncan Currie, 42, also admitted their involvement in the scheme.
The scam involved telling victims their accounts were at risk of fraud, prompting them to provide personal details. Shahid and his associates were able to swindle thousands and purchase luxury goods.
Details of the Fraud
On one occasion, Shahid and Singh convinced an elderly woman they were officers from Police Scotland. The pair swindled her out of £32,750 in cash, £7,679.44 in euros and a £16,500 GMT Master II Batman Rolex. They also attempted to obtain from her £13,000 in cash, cryptocurrency to the value of £10,000, a £5144 Valcambi 100 gram gold bar and a £24,204 Metalor 500 gram gold bar.
Judge Lord Renucci called for pre-sentencing reports ahead of a sentencing hearing on November 20. During Friday’s hearing, advocate depute Scott McKenzie explained the scam had involved “considerable planning”, and the fraudsters had used residential telephone directories to get the names, addresses and contact details of targets.
Impact and Background
The victims were aged from around 65 into their 90s and lived mainly in Scotland’s central belt. Mr McKenzie said: “The modus operandi of the group was the initiate contact with intended victims by telephone, while pretending to be a police officer, bank fraud investigator or fraud department staff.”
“The caller would explain to the victim that there had been alleged misuse of their cards or bank account. Many of the victims were provided with bogus telephone numbers to call to verify the alleged frauds.” A confiscation order in respect of the three men has been made by the Crown.
Shahid is the brother of Imran “Baldy” Shahid and Zeeshan ‘Crazy’ Shahid who are serving time for the murder of 15-year-old Kriss Donald in Glasgow. Kriss was taken on a 200-mile journey to Dundee and back to Glasgow, where he was stabbed 13 times, doused in petrol and set alight on Clyde Walkway, near Celtic's then Barrowfield training ground. The court heard he may have still been alive when he was set on fire. Imran is serving a minimum of 25 years while Zeeshan is serving 23 years behind bars.
