Jailed solicitor ‘knew’ funds came from drug dealing

An award-winning solicitor has been jailed for four years for his part in money laundering the profits of a drugs racket. Shadab Khan’s career and reputation is in ruins following his conviction at Leeds Crown Court on money-laundering charges.

The sentencing judge said it was ‘incomprehensible’ why he had committed the offences, which went ‘beyond sheer greed or a naivety that went beyond stupidity.’

Khan carried out conveyancing on several properties worth just under £600,000 for his client, Khalid Malik. Mr Malik had a luxury car business which may have provided a front for his apparent wealth. However he was also involved in drug dealing, and is now serving a 25 year prison sentence for conspiracy to supply £7 million worth of heroin.

Both Mr Khan and Mr Malik were from the same ethnic community. The court said that there was a failure to sufficiently question the customary practices within that community with respect to business transactions, particularly the practice of receiving funds from third parties.

Mr Malik had been putting cash from drug-dealing into properties and the jury concluded that Mr Khan either knew or suspected where the money was coming from.

Mr Khan was found guilty of one charge of money-laundering and two charges of failing to disclose a suspicion of money-laundering but was cleared of a second money-laundering charge.

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