A fraudster who betrayed his own family business by stealing more than £800,000 has been jailed. Shuaib Hussain, aged 24, was a trusted employee and relative at a small Birmingham company, working as a bookkeeper and accounts manager from the age of 21.
The Fraud
Hussain began stealing within a year of his employment in 2023. After successfully transferring £10,000 meant for a supplier to his own account, he went on to make nearly 400 further illegal transactions. The court heard how he ripped his family apart to spend the money on expensive perfumes, designer clothing, and electrical items, as well as donating large sums to online gamers streaming on Twitch.
Prosecutor Tim Harrington stated that Hussain attempted to disguise the payments by altering invoice details. The fraud was discovered in May last year when the bank informed the business of discrepancies. One supplier had been due to receive 13 payments but received only one. When confronted, Hussain initially fobbed off the director but later confessed when shown evidence.
Impact on the Business
The business director, who asked not to be named, told the court that additional tax brought the total cost of the fraud to over £1 million. He said there were ongoing financial issues with HM Revenue and Customs, and staff feared for their jobs. He described Hussain's betrayal as a 'bitter pill to swallow', adding: 'This was not an isolated incident. It was a sustained and deliberate course of conduct against a family who trusted him, not only as an employee but as a relative.'
The director explained that he would pick Hussain up in the morning, spend nine hours with him daily, and drop him home around the corner. He claimed Hussain showed no remorse, even telling relatives his only regret was 'getting caught and wishing he had stolen a much higher amount'—though this was later denied on Hussain's behalf.
Defense and Sentencing
Hussain, of Frederick Road, Stechford, admitted fraud by abuse of position and was jailed for four years and ten months on Friday, May 29. He has no previous convictions and has repaid around £75,000.
Defending, Ahmed Muen said Hussain recognizes the severe financial and emotional impact of his actions. 'He is single-handedly responsible for ripping apart what was once a close-knit family unit. He carries the weight of that heavily.' The barrister submitted that the death of Hussain's father in September 2023 had a substantial effect, making him the carer for his mother and siblings. Hussain felt the financial strain of missing work for hospital appointments and instead of asking for help, he decided to 'skim money from the company account'.
Mr Muen added that it was a sign of Hussain's 'stupidity and immaturity' that the fraud would likely be traced back to him. He expressed remorse and intends to set up a payment plan to reimburse as much as possible, though he will probably never repay the full amount or repair the emotional damage.
