A former president of the Scottish Muslim Police Affiliation embezzled £eight,000 from her employers to assist fund a procuring journey to Harrods.
Asma Ali, 47, stole the money whereas finishing up her position as a Police Scotland solicitor between March 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019.
Ali, who was appointed president in December 2016, obtained her cash from numerous locations in Scotland and England.
This included the Scottish Police Muslim Affiliation (SPMA) based mostly at Maryhill Police Workplace in Glasgow.
The SPMA is a physique that gives data, assist and coaching to law enforcement officials in relation to Islam.
Ali, a founding member of the SPMA, ran his cross-border operation out of a London financial institution and an workplace in Edinburgh.
Ali used a number of the cash to fund her “luxurious way of life”, which included a vacation in London and a procuring journey to Harrods.
Her earlier roles included department coordinator of the Islamic Society of Nice Britain and main Islam Consciousness Week in Scotland.
The previous Police Scotland solicitor was additionally a part of Mosaic Scotland, related to the Princes Belief.
Ali pleaded responsible to embezzlement at Glasgow Sheriff Court docket.
Sheriff Louise Arrol KC ordered the mom to hold out 160 hours of unpaid work in her sentencing on Thursday.
A compensation order was made for Ali to repay £eight,000 to the SPMA.
The sheriff mentioned: “This was an offense which occurred over a interval of greater than two years.
“This required planning to the extent that you just not less than proposed and carried out a modified single signature to embezzle £eight,000 from the Scottish Police Muslim Affiliation.
“This was a corporation that obtained annual funding to assist its members.
“He might have been residing past his means, and this was partly as a result of lavish way of life he led.
“There have been journeys to London and a procuring journey to Harrods.
“Whereas I can’t underestimate the impression this offense had on others, you might be an clever individual and an achieved particular person.
“It’s regrettable that he has misplaced his position as a lawyer and that his difficulties haven’t been resolved legitimately.
“You had loads to lose and you have already got.
“I’ve thought-about the difficulties of the years earlier than and after the offense and the regret you’ve proven is real.
“I’m happy to notice that you’ve got managed, within the face of actual adversity, to vary your life.
“I’m satisfied that there’s an alternative choice to custody that may be a direct various to custody.”
The court docket heard that the SPMA started receiving funding within the area of £20,000 in 2010.
Ali – in her position as secretary in 2016 – proposed a change within the process for the way expense checks have been issued.
He requested that the method change to a single signature as an alternative of additionally having a countersignatory.
The then-treasurer accepted it regardless of his reservations about sustaining transparency.
Ali subsequently obtained the financial institution particulars, after which the treasurer resigned in 2018 attributable to issues about how the affiliation was run.
From late 2017 to June 2019, members raised issues concerning the SPMA's funds and its administration.
Prosecutor Lauren Sangray mentioned: “Discussions have been held between members about funds constructed from the SPMA on to Ali with out receipts or endorsements.”
Ali was requested to provide financial institution statements and there seemed to be a big quantity of funds made with out full assure.
Ali formally resigned as president in August 2019.
An investigation by the Division of Skilled Requirements' Particular Investigations Crew discovered Ali “owed vital debt.”
Ms Sangray mentioned: “From the knowledge seized, it was recognized that there have been a major variety of transactions between SPMA's enterprise account and Ali's private account on the Financial institution of Scotland.”
The fiscal depute added that there have been “a number of journeys, together with London, together with flights, practice tickets, lodge stays, Uber journeys and a procuring journey to Harrods.”
Additional money withdrawals have been constructed from Ali's account, which have been refunded via the SPMA with out receipts or collateral.
Ms Sangray mentioned: “By analyzing Ali's checking account it grew to become clear that he was residing inside his means, was paying off vital money owed and infrequently fell into overdrafts.”
Euan Dow, defending, mentioned in sentencing that the stolen cash, which had not been returned, will probably be returned to the Affiliation by her new employers via her wage.
The Crown accepted not responsible pleas to 2 counts of making an attempt to acquire £2,000 and £1,000 by fraud, in addition to one rely of fraud involving £500.
Fraser Gibson, Procurator Fiscal for Glasgow and Strathkelvin, mentioned: “Asma Ali flagrantly abused the belief positioned in her by members of the Scottish Police Muslim Affiliation (SPMA) to take care of their pursuits.
“As an alternative, he used his place to embezzle funds that ought to have been put aside to assist the affiliation and used that cash for his private use.
“This case demonstrates that those that search to take advantage of others for private achieve will probably be held accountable for his or her crimes.
“We’ll at all times prosecute these circumstances when it’s within the public curiosity and when there may be proof to take action.”
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