Man jailed over insurance scam shop fire allowed to remain as a landlord

A man who was jailed for his part in setting a family shop on fire in a failed insurance scam can keep operating as a landlord in Glasgow.

Kasim Ahmed was called before the city’s licensing committee as he bid to remain registered as a private landlord.

Ahmed and his brother were found guilty of a charge of being part of a fraudulent scheme, and sentenced to two years in prison each, after they were involved in setting fire to premises in Glasgow’s Gallowgate in May 2020.

Councillors heard Ahmed had been released after six months and were asked to consider his “fitness” to be registered as a landlord.

Glasgow & West

Brothers jailed for setting fire to family shop in insurance scam

Sahail and Kasim Ahmed were involved in setting fire to the premises in Glasgow’s Gallowgate on May 16, 2020.

His lawyer, Gordon Jackson KC, told the committee that his client had been struggling to get a job since his release and relied on the income from the one property he rents to a family.

Mr Jackson said there could be “no absolute excuse” for Ahmed’s involvement in the offence, but there was “a lot of family pressure” and he would not have benefited from the insurance claim as his “brother was the policyholder”.

During the trial, jurors had heard the shop, which sold phones and e-cigarettes, had been hit financially by the Covid lockdown.

The licensing committee heard Ahmed wants to work but his conviction “stymies” everything he applies for. “His only income is that one flat,” Mr Jackson added. “It is mortgaged. There is not a huge amount, not enough to live on. He’s back living with his mum.”

Councillors were also told Ahmed had failed to update his previous landlord registration after the conviction. Mr Jackson said his client had planned to sell the property at the time but evicting the tenants was “very tricky”.

He had declared the conviction when he decided to renew his registration, the lawyer said.

A council official confirmed there had been no complaints about Ahmed in his role as a landlord. Councillors decided to continue the applicant’s registration as a landlord.

All private landlords are required to register with their local authority to ensure they are “fit and proper” to let property.