At an extraordinary outburst during a curry awards ceremony on 1st November, at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London, controversial British-Bangladeshi businessmen Mahee Ferdous Jalil, described the awards as “fake” and the awards process as “corrupt”.
During an interview, broadcast live, Jalil alleged that awards and honours were tied to commercial factors like table bookings, sponsorships, or paid fees – rather than pure merit.
The accusations sparked a fierce row within the British-Bangladeshi culinary community, as the BCA swiftly issued an official statement
Jalil has since made an unconditional apology, stating:
“I have come to realise that I was unable to express my responses to the journalists’ questions that day in a sufficiently measured and clear manner.
“It was never my intention to disrespect the BCA, any award recipient, or anyone associated with the catering industry. However, regardless of my intentions, I recognise that some of the inappropriate choice of words in my unstructured comments caused offence to a number of people. I have come to appreciate this in retrospect.
“I would therefore like to sincerely express my regret and apologise to everyone who may have been hurt or offended by the words, sentences or expressions I used.”
Jalil founded the British-Bangldeshi TV station Channel S which began broadcasting in 2004, Prestige Auto Group, which later became Diamond Auto Group – based in Walthamstow, London. He also currently presents a weekly talk show Reality with Mahee which airs every on Channel S.
A contraversial figure with a “chequered” past, Jalil committed money laundering offences in 2008 while awaiting trial for conspiracy to defraud. He was found guilty at Croydon Crown Court for conspiracy for car insurance fraud over “crash-for-cash” staged accidents and sentenced to an 18-month prison term. He serving seven months of his term and made his first public appearance at the Channel S Community Awards in March 2009.
Between 2006 and 2010, he accepted at least £500,000 into bank accounts under his control and laundered some of the profits of the £3m “crash-for-cash” scam, knowing the money had been defrauded out of insurance companies. Jalil admitted to playing a background role behind Motor Alliance, an insurance company which made at least £1.17 million during the four-year scam. He pleaded to guilty to money laundering and admitted to possessing criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 just before he was due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court.
In October 2011, Haque and five other men were sentenced to a total of more than 12 years in prison following a Metropolitan Police Service investigation called Operation Scarp. Jalil was was ordered to pay £84,000 to AXA Insurance.
On 17 February 2014, he was sentenced to a three-year prison term for money laundering at Southwark Crown Court. He admitted possessing criminal property and was also banned from being a director for 10 years.
In May 2011, Jalil was bundled into a car at gunpoint outside the offices of Channel S in Clifford Road, Walthamstow, London at 1:30 am. He was then driven to an Indian restaurant in West London where he was hooded, bound, beaten, tortured and repeatedly demanded £250,000 ransom. Jalil was eventually released by one of the kidnappers, driven to the edge of London’s A406 North Circular Road and given £30 to get a taxi. Jalil made his way home, called the police, and was taken to hospital for treatment for burns and internal injuries.
In 2011, three men were charged with conspiracy to kidnap and tried for conspiracy to kidnap, blackmail, and assault causing grievous bodily harm. Two were acquitted. Mohammed Iqbal Hussain was sentenced to a 32-year prison term (15 years for kidnap, 10 years for grievous bodily harm and 7 years for blackmail).
Jalil suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and psychological difficulties from the physical and mental ordeal.
Covered under the Corruption Act of 2010, using faux awards to deceived the public is serious criminal offence, carrying the threat of up to 10 years in prison and an unlimited fine.
Author: George Shaw
Former BBC journalist and founder and CEO of an award-winning London advertising and PR company for 20 years, providing restaurant consultancy services. Spent a decade as the director of communications of the Asian Catering Federation in the UK and lead judge for its various restaurant and chef awards programmes. Now returned to journalism, specialising in food and travel and currently the Editor-in-Chief for Taste London, Taste Asia, the Good Curry Guide and CEO of International Culinary Guides.