Mosque leader is still under investigation by police after 11 months, but no charges
A BURTON mosque leader remains under investigation on suspicion of fraud offences almost a year after he was arrested.
Shoukat Mahmood, chairman of the Jamia Masjid Hanfia Ghausia, in Princess Street, confirmed he was arrested at his home in Eton Close in June last year.
At the time, he told the Burton Mail that he strongly denied all allegations, adding that he had nothing to hide, but did not want to comment further.
Now, almost a year on, Staffordshire Police has confirmed he is still under investigation, but no charges had yet been brought.
A spokesman for the force said: “A 60-year-old man, from Burton, remains released under investigation pending further enquiries. We appreciate there has been interest among the local community, but we would urge people not to speculate about the case while the investigation is ongoing.”
At the time of Mr Mahmood’s arrest, police also arrested another man. Reportedly, officers swooped on a house in nearby Derby Street the same day.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman confirmed at the time that two men, aged 53 and then aged 59, both from Burton, had been arrested on suspicion of fraud offences and released on bail.
Mr Mahmood remains chairman of the management committee at the mosque.