"Khan wrongfully thought he could get away with funding his lifestyle"
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has seized £472,740 from convicted money launderer Kashaf Ali Khan.
Khan, aged 44, of Solihull, had purchased a £412,000 house in 2013 with money he claimed had been won with 123 winning tickets in the Pakistan lottery.
He had made the purchase in his father’s name, but Khan was the one who had bought the house.
The NCA had employed an expert statistician who explained that winning the Pakistan lottery 123 times was as likely as winning the UK National Lottery jackpot 40 consecutive times.
Using his father, Khan used black-market prize bond dealers in Pakistan in an attempt to fool investigators into believing he had won actual prizes.
Winners typically have to wait several weeks before collecting their winnings.
Because of that, some are willing to take a loss and sell their winning ticket to an agent for a lower amount but they get the money immediately.
Black-market agents then sell on the winning tickets for much more to criminals needing to clean their criminal money who can then get prize organisers to issue payment in their name.
In 2012, sums of money had been transferred into Khan’s father’s UK bank account from Dubai.
Khan later admitted money laundering by using criminal money to buy the property. The confiscation order was granted in 2018.
He has now sold the house, valued at £480,000, to pay off the confiscation order.
Phil Houghton, NCA investigating officer, stated:
“Kashaf Ali Khan wrongfully thought he could get away with funding his lifestyle by criminal means.
“Offenders like Khan play an enabling role for other criminals to move and clean the proceeds of crime. They will be relentlessly pursued by the NCA.
“The issue poses a priority threat for the NCA and we do everything possible to combat it.”
“This order is a warning to those who believe they can benefit financially from a criminal lifestyle – crime doesn’t pay.”
The sum of £472,740 was paid on August 20, 2019.
Khan has had several previous convictions for money laundering.
In October 2009, Khan was caught handing over a holdall containing £74,830 in cash to someone.
In September 2010, the money launderer pleaded guilty to money laundering offences and received a suspended prison sentence. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
In January 2012, Khan was ordered to pay £175,000 as a result of the conviction.
He paid the £175,000 in cash within 12 months, however, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs discovered no records of him working.
Khan later admitted paying off the confiscation order using criminal cash.
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