Ex-chairperson of Scottish Police Muslim Association avoids jail after embezzlement

An ex-chairperson of the Scottish Police Muslim Association embezzled £8,000 from her employers to help fund a shopping trip to Harrods.

Asma Ali, 47, swindled the cash while in her role as a solicitor between March 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019.

Cross border operation

Ali - who was appointed Chair in December 2016 - received her ill gotten gains from a number of locations in Scotland and England.

This included at the Scottish Police Muslim Association (SPMA) based at Glasgow's Maryhill Police Office.

The SPMA are a body who provide information, support and training to police officers in relation to Islam.

Ali - who was a founding member of the SPMA - carried out her cross border operation at a bank in London and an office in Edinburgh.

Ali used some of the money to fund her "lavish lifestyle" which included a holiday to London which included a shopping trip to Harrods.

Her previous roles included the branch co-ordinator for the Islamic Society of Britain and led Islam Awareness Week Scotland.

The ex-Police Scotland lawyer was also part of Mosaic Scotland which was associated with the Princes Trust.

Payback order

Ali pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to embezzlement.

Sheriff Louise Arrol KC ordered the mum to do 160 hours of unpaid work at today's sentencing.

There was also a compensation order put in place for Ali to pay back £8,000 to the SPMA.

The sheriff said: "This was an offence which occurred over a period in excess of two years.

"This required planning to the extent that at the very least you proposed and implemented a changed single signature to embezzle £8,000 from the Scottish Police Muslim Association.

"This was an organisation which received annual funding to assist its members.

"You may have been living outwith your means and this was due in part to the lavish lifestyle which you engaged in.

"There were trips to London and a shopping trip to Harrods.

"While I cannot underestimate the impact this offence had on others, you are an intelligent person and an accomplished individual.

"It is regrettable that you lost your role as a lawyer and that your difficulties were not resolved in a legitimate way.

"You stood to lose very much and you've now done so.

"I have considered the difficulties in the years leading up to and after the offence and the remorse you demonstrated is genuine.

"I am pleased to note that you have managed in the face of real adversity to turn your life around.

"I am satisfied that there is an alternative to custody which is a direct alternative to custody."

Euan Dow, defending, told the sentencing that the stolen cash - which had not been paid back - will be returned to the Association by her new employers.

Two charges of attempting to obtain £2,000 and 1,000 by fraud as well as a £500 fraud charge had not guilty pleas accepted by the Crown.

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