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LEICESTER VOICE
Asian Voice - Saturday 22nd September 2012
Judge discharges money laundering case A gang who set up a web of bogus companies were involved in a "colossal" ÂŁ10 million money laundering scam, a court was told last week just before the judge dismissed the case. The gang were involved in moving massive amounts of euros to accounts in China, beyond the reach of UK authorities. The operations involved transferring large amounts of money from company to company before exporting it through legitimate currency exchange companies. A police investigation called Operation Foam found the money came
Vikesh Dinesh Patel, left, and Kishan Srivastava
from criminal activities. These included making
'Blast tragedy at kebab shop was a botched insurance job'
bogus mortgage applications and forging one man's
identity to cash a ÂŁ250,000 savings bond. Singh (48) and his wife Gurdish Nijjar (38), both of Heybridge Road, Leicester; Kishan Srivastava (24), of Golden Hillock Road, Birmingham; Vikesh Dinesh Patel (38), of Denegate Avenue, Birstall; Nisha Uddin (28), of Shipton Road, Hamilton; Jasvinder Singh (50), of Folksworth Road, Peterborough; and Deepak Singh Rai (30) of The Littleway, North Evington, Leicester, all deny conspiracy to convert criminal property by making deposits of cash into bank accounts.
LABA salutes individuals and organisations who supported resettlement of Ugandan Asians
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Teenage girl with nut allergy killed by a takeaway curry A teenage girl with a peanut allergy died after she had a fatal reaction to an Indian takeaway. Emma Egerton, above, 18, who was home alone in Sale, Greater Manchester, called 999 and left the door open for the ambulance crew as soon as she realised the dish contained nuts. But she was already unconscious when paramedics arrived and was pronounced dead in hospital later that night. The talented artist was warned that a single nut could kill her when she was diagnosed with the hypersensitivity, aged five. John Egerton, chief inspector with the metropol-
itan division of Greater Manchester Police, said of his daughter: ‘She was a beautiful, caring girl. She was really affectionate and looked after everyone. No one who knew her will ever forget her.’
Hate crimes fall in Midlands as police still record more than 2,700 in a year
A chef was killed in a massive explosion as he set fire to a kebab shop in a ÂŁ250,000 insurance scam, a jury has heard. Married father-of-two Fiaz Ahmed Ansari died when Kams Grill, in Narborough Road, Leicester, was destroyed by the blast. His body was found as builders cleared up the next day. Mr Ansari, 41, had a financial interest in the failing business, where he worked, and had spread a rumour someone had threatened to burn the building down, it was claimed. He recruited
employee Shahbaaz Khan and friend Mehwish Yasin, both 25, to assist him. The pair appeared at Leicester Crown Court Monday to deny Mr Ansari's manslaughter and reckless arson. The court heard Mr Ansari took out ÂŁ250,000 "business interruption" cover shortly before the incident, which went spectacularly wrong and cost him his life. The defendants claimed they thought it would only be a "small fire" to justify the insurance claim.
A new start: Asians arrive from the blazing heat of Uganda to a brutally cold British winter 40 years ago
On the 40th anniversary of the first Ugandan Asians landing in the UK, LABA has taken out a full page colour advertisement in Leicester Mercury thanking the Her Majesty’s Government and all individuals, institutions and companies that supported the rehabilitation of Ugandan Asians as proud and valuable citizens of Leicestershire. Jaspal Singh Minhas LABA’s President said� it was an important gesture on part of LABA to take
the opportunity to salute the warmth and generosity of institutions and individuals in Leicestershire who worked hard to assist the rehabilitation of Ugandan Asians, who are today valuable citizens of the county making tremendous contribution to the socio-economic fabric of Leicestershire and the Country. Framed posters of the advert will be presented to key institutions and individuals as recognition of their contribution over the next few weeks� said Jaspal.
UK
Police recorded 2,733 hate crimes in the West Midlands last year, including offences motivated by racism, homophobia or prejudice against disabled people. The figure was down slightly on the year before, when 2,939 hate crimes were recorded. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) published the figures. They included 189 hate crimes motivated by hostility towards a religion, down from 223. The number of homophobic crimes was 68, up from 61. There were also 41 crimes targeting people with disabilities, up from 33, and nine crimes targeting transexuals, up from
eight the year previously. The figures refer to the area covered by West Midlands Police, including Birmingham, Solihull, the Black Country and Coventry. ACPO spokesman Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris said: “Hate crimes cause a great deal of fear among victims and communities. We are determined to reduce the harm caused by hate crime and as a service, we have listened to victims’ groups who have told us that publishing this data will improve confidence in the police and the wider criminal justice system. I would encourage anyone who is a victim of hate crime to report.�
A lesson or two from Alec Stewart Indrani Thakurata Cricket is our religion. It is hard to resist watching a match if you are a cricket enthusiast. And deep within, most students given a chance want to drop those books and pick up a cricket bat. If you too harbour such fantasy, then here is your chance to turn them into reality. Secondary students across England will be given the opportunity that could win them a once-in-a-lifetime experience to spend a day with the former England cricket captain Alec Stewart at the Oval Cricket Ground. Stewart was a right-handed batsman-wicketkeeper and the most capped England cricketer of all-time in Test matches, making 133 appearances. He cemented his legacy as highest Test Run scorer in the world during the 1990s. Since retiring from the game, Stewart now serves as the Club Ambassador for Surrey County Cricket Club, his domestic club
throughout his career.“I’m excited to share my love of cricket through upcoming events sponsored by MoneyGram across England,� said Stewart. “As someone who has traveled the world for cricket, I know the importance of staying connected with my family when I was on the road, and I admire the way MoneyGram brings families closer through its money transfer services.� The contest, sponsored by MoneyGram and the student can be anybody in secondary
school, regardless of your knowledge about cricket. MoneyGram, a leading global money transfer company, announced that former England cricket captain Alec Stewart will serve as the company’s ambassador for events leading up to the company’s sponsorship of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 (T20) international championship. “Four schools will be selected to win a visit from Stewart. To enter, schools should go to moneygram.com/cricket and submit
a 500-word creative essay explaining why their school should be chosen. The schools also will be required to answer a few basic questions to be eligible. All entries must be received by midnight on October 17, 2012,� Richard Levy, Director of Marketing, MoneyGram elaborates. He stresses on a point that he thinks is also a highlight of the competition, “Regardless of the community and gender, we will pick four schools, 15 students approximately from each to have a fun session with Alec in Oval.� Stewart will visit the four winning schools in the U.K. and give students their first chance to meet the most capped Test match England cricketer of all-time. During the school visits, students also will have the opportunity to interact with Stewart, take photos, and request autographs.“Just like these children, I also started out as a fan who truly loved
cricket,� said Stewart, the former batsman-wicketkeeper. “I am proud to associate with MoneyGram which is taking cricket from the grassroot level to its peak,� says Alec. “Children everywhere look up to their sports heroes in awe, but very few have the opportunity to play with an alltime great,� said Juan Agualimpia, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, MoneyGram. “Cricket fandom begins as a child, and this contest will bring students closer to their dreams of being an England cricketer than they ever thought possible.� “Students from the winning schools will visit the England changing rooms, tour the famed facilities, and receive coaching from the cricket legend. To conclude the event, the schools will play in a tournament, with the winner receiving a trophy provided by MoneyGram,� concludes Richard.