A FORMER mayor of North Lincolnshire has been accused of thefts and fraud totalling nearly £240,000 – including assuming the identity of a dead man.
Jawaid Ishaq, a councillor for the Crosby and Park ward on North Lincolnshire Council, appeared before magistrates in Scunthorpe charged with 16 offences.
He stands accused of three counts of forgery, four thefts, five counts of fraud and single counts of obtaining money by deception, making/supplying an article (a false letterhead) to commit fraud, possessing an article (a false letterhead) to commit fraud and perverting the course of justice.
The charges, some dating back to 1997, were not read out during the hearing at North Lincolnshire Magistrates' Court, but Ishaq, 71, of Normanby Road, Scunthorpe, said he understood the matters.
Ishaq was suspended from the Labour Party in April following his arrest and was charged in October.
During his time serving the Crosby and Park ward, Ishaq has been chairman of the authority's planning committee and was North Lincolnshire mayor from 2008-2009.
He is chairman of the South Humber Racial Equality Council and a former deputy chairman of Humberside Police Authority. In November 2000 he was awarded the MBE for his services to race relations.
Ishaq will appear before Grimsby Crown Court on December 9.
Ishaq is accused of:
Making a false instrument – an enduring Power of Attorney document – in the name of Ali Salem Sultan between July, 7, 1997 and January 31, 2003.
Using a false instrument – an enduring Power of Attorney document – in the name of Ali Salem Sultan between January 1 and February 1, 2003, which you knew or believed to be false, in dealings with HBOS.
Using a false instrument – an enduring Power of Attorney document – in the name of Ali Salem Sultan between January 1 and April 1, 2003, which you knew or believed to be false, in dealings with the international pension service.
Theft – stealing £25,049.99, belonging to Ali Salem Sultan, between January 1, 2003, and January 19, 2007.
Theft – stealing £7,540, belonging to Ali Salem Sultan, between January 17, 2007, and December 31, 2008.
Theft – stealing rent to the value of approximately £16,160 belonging to the estate of the deceased Ali Salem Sultan, between March 20, 2008 and October 16, 2012.
Theft – stealing rent to the value of approximately £23,750 belonging to the estate of the deceased Ali Salem Sultan, between March 2008 and October 16, 2012.
Dishonestly obtaining £51,700 in money transfers from HSBC for yourself or another by deception, by falsely representing the power of attorney produced to obtain funds was a valid document, between February 1, 2005 and September 1, 2006.
Fraud – dishonestly making a false representation to HBOS on January 18, 2007, that an Enduring Power of Attorney document in the name of Ali Salem Sultan was genuine and gaining access to his banking facilities, intending to make a gain by appropriating pension payments for yourself.
Fraud – dishonestly making a false representation by calling HSBC on July 27, 2011, pretending to be the deceased Ali Salem Sultan.
Fraud – dishonestly making a false representation by calling Discount Insurance on September 12, 2012, pretending to be the deceased Ali Salem Sultan, to secure insurance for 91 Dale Street and 74 Sheffield Street over which you had assumed ownership, allowing you to declare your own personal insurance claims, for yourself.
Fraud – dishonestly making a false representation by providing a false invoice on April 15, 2010, to your accountant Howard Sanderson to reduce your Capital Gains Tax.
Perverting the course of justice – on July 8, 2010, in proceedings brought by North Lincolnshire Council for an Order of Sale of 91 Dale Street, Scunthorpe, making a statement in which it was falsely claimed that the property was fire damaged in 1997 and in which you falsely claimed that the premises owner, Ali Sultan, was alive.
Making an article – a Dennis O'Neil letterhead – intending it to be used to commit or assist in the commission of fraud, between April 4 and April 24, 2012.
Possessing an article – a Blank Range Maintenance letterhead – on October 16, 2012 for use in the course of or in connection with a fraud.
Fraud – dishonestly making a false representation between July 2 and August 1, 2007, to secure a re-mortgage for £114,750 with Edus (Coventry Building Society) for 18 Normanby Road, Scunthorpe, after falsely representing on an application form that the property was to be your residence.
