Six to face trial after multi-million pound crypto scandal
The transfers happened at locations throughout Glasgow and the West
Six people are to stand trial accused of involvement in an illegal £6m cryptocurrency operation.
Aftab Allah, 34, Shehbaz Allah, 38, Hamzah Habib, 37, Kamran Javid, 32, Asim Afzal, 33, and Imad Younis, 36, today have appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.
A four-year swindle
The charge they face spans between March 2015 and September 2019.
It is claimed the group acted together and with others in a scheme which they suspected or knew concerned "criminal property".
Prosecutors state they did "receive, deposit, transfer, exchange and organise" the transmission of this cryptocurrency and money by putting it into bank accounts and digital cash wallets on behalf of others.
The indictment alleges the sum was "over £6million".
A number of locations are listed including several in Glasgow city centre as well as shop in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire.
The group all denied the charge under the Proceeds of Crime Act today, but no plea was entered on behalf of Aftab Allah.
Specialist input
Erin Campbell - leading the prosecution in the case - said a cryptocurrency specialist will be called to testify.
The advocate depute told the hearing: "This will assist the jury in interpreting the evidence."
Defence lawyers are also likely to instruct a crypto expert.
Miss Campbell went on to state: "I invite the court to fix a trial for this matter."
Lady Poole went on to set a trial and it is scheduled to begin in September 2026.
The Allahs, both of Lesmahagow, Habib, of Cambuslang, all Lanarkshire, Javid, of the city's Govanhill, Afzal, of Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, and Younis, also of Govanhill, remain on bail meantime.
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