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Key MQM leader jailed in money-laundering probe in London**
LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s London based Central Co-ordination Committee member Imbisat Malick has been jailed for 21 months in a case linked with the wider money-laundering investigation that originated during the murder investigation of Dr Imran Farooq, the former MQM senior leader killed on 16 September 2010.
Malick has worked at the MQM’s London Secretariat for several years and has risen to the ranks of the Rabita Committee member and has been seen attending all important meetings presided over by Altaf Hussain.
According to police sources, Malick was guilty of a mortgage fraud case at the Isleworth Crown Court in late December last year but was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment on 24 January this year.
Imbisat Malick’s house was raided for the first time when the Counter Terrorism Command Unit launched raids in June last year on several properties, including the North West London residence of the MQM leader Altaf Hussain. On 18 June, the counter terrorism command unit had started searches of two houses in North West London. Imbisat Malick’s house was raided after the searches were complete at both these two houses.
The News is aware that Imbisat Malick, of Northwood Middlesex, has been reported to the police on several occasions by a faction within the MQM but nothing was found on him.
MQM’s leadership is strongly of the view that some people within the party have been passing crucial information to the police and that Imbisat Malick has fallen a victim to that conflict within the party.
He is son-in-law of a London-based veteran MQM leader.
During a dawn raid, nearly two dozen Counter Terrorism Command Unit officers raided Malick’s house but failed to find a big amount. The police had served the Magistrate’s Warrants to search his house.
The police took away with them documents that showed that Malick had obtained mortgage on his house while being unemployed.
Tens of thousands of people get mortgage from UK banks every month giving false information about the sources of their income and the banks easily accept these explanations but in the case of Imbisat Malick the situation became complicated due to the high-profile investigation into Dr Imran Farooq murder.
The 42 year old has been extensively questioned about the wider money-laundering allegations against the MQM officials.
An MQM source from Karachi told The News that a few senior former officials of the MQM developed differences with Malick over business contracts in Karachi.
“The party’s internal differences are a very serious concern and many people are not even hiding their hatred for each other,” said the source.
It was alleged during the court proceedings that Malick had made ‘false representations’ to obtain mortgage - showing himself as employed and producing papers which showed his income as quite good, enabling him to qualify for the mortgage while his full-time commitment with the MQM meant that he only drew a token money, under £1,000 per month, from the party.
A court source told The News on Saturday that Imbisat Malick’s lawyers have decided to appeal his conviction. The source said that Malick would launch his appeal within a month, stressing that he has been convicted on wrong grounds.
Malik has been sentenced for his personal issues related to using false information while obtaining mortgage on his house while being unemployed.
That should still leave the original issue of money laundering unsettled involving MQM as a party.
