TWO gangsters fleeced £145,000 in Covid bounceback loans — despite one having 48 convictions.
Asif Hussain ran an international £3million ring exporting stolen luxury cars to Dubai but still got £50,000 of taxpayers’ cash.
And fellow gang member Ibraaz Shafique received £50,000 and £45,000 in loans meant to help businesses struggling in the pandemic.
Now a judge is demanding an explanation — insisting “the most basic of checks would have revealed the fraud”.
It was the second time the same judge has spoken out over Covid fraudsters appearing at Manchester crown court.
In November, he demanded to know how a drugs gang accused of plotting to kidnap and rob an elderly businessman got a £25,000 Covid loan.
Earlier this month, Hussain, who has 48 convictions, and Shafique, were found to have used businesses in Wigan and Oldham as cover for loans.
Hussain, 44, was jailed for 15 years over his chop shop ring and Shafique, 23, for five.
Judge Anthony Cross QC said: “The public are entitled to an explanation as to how these loans were obtained.
“That explanation must be made public. I require an explanation from the relevant body within 14 days.”
Last night, Shadow Treasury Minister Pat McFadden said the scam highlighted weaknesses in the scheme.
He said: “The Government simply didn’t respect taxpayers enough to take warnings about fraud risk seriously.”
Official estimates suggest close to £5billion of the £47billon lent could be lost to fraud.
About a quarter of all UK companies applied for the loans. But the National Audit Office said a lack of credit checks left the scheme “vulnerable to fraud and losses”.
