Suspended jail term for pilgrimage fraud

A FRAUDSTER who sold bogus pilgrimage trips to customers through his travel company has escaped prison.

Jhangir Akhtar (36), of Barlow Street, Glodwick, would offer prospective Hajj or Umrah pilgrims travel packages to Mecca through his registered website.

Four victims responded to his advertisement under the company name Al Makkah Tours.

Each person sent cash and received fake flight tickets and hotel reservations. The customers were swindled out of £4,225 between March and April, 2011.

Akhtar claimed he had been let down by his travel contracts and would offer full refunds, which were never honoured.

Det-Con Ian Stockwell, from Oldham CID, said: Ahtar’s victims only found out at the last minute that their travel plans were bogus.”

Akhtar was sentenced to 10 months in jail, suspended for two years, with 150 hours unpaid work, at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

He earlier pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud.







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