A man has been sentenced to three years in prison for multiple financial crimes, including money laundering and theft, following a case that revealed he had exploited the bank account details of a deceased individual.

Abdullah Muhammad Shakir Saqlain, 43, from Ilford in Essex, pleaded guilty in July 2022 to four charges: two counts of money laundering and two counts of theft, totalling more than £50,000. The offences were part of a broader investigation into Saqlain’s illicit financial activities, which spanned multiple fraudulent transactions and schemes.

The investigation revealed that Saqlain used the bank account of a deceased acquaintance in a brazen attempt to cover his tracks. He had accessed the deceased person’s account and funnelled large sums of money to support his fraudulent activities.

When questioned by authorities, Saqlain was uncooperative, refusing to provide the PIN to his mobile phone and repeatedly responding with “no comment” to all inquiries during police interviews, hindering the investigation.

Despite his attempts to obstruct the investigation, police were able to gather enough evidence to convict Saqlain. The judge described his actions as “calculated and deceitful,” noting that his crimes were premeditated and showed a lack of respect for both the law and the deceased individual whose identity he exploited.

Saqlain’s sentence serves as a stern warning to others who seek to exploit vulnerabilities for financial gain, with authorities continuing to crack down on money laundering and theft.