Portsmouth Imam accused in £26,000 fraud had '˜porn on his phone'

Aminur Rahman is on trial at Portsmouth Crown Court accused of a £26,000 fraud against worshippers at the Jami Mosque in Southsea.

Yesterday Iqbal Miah told jurors that after a meeting with Rahman on June 24, 2013, he had the Imam’s phone and tried to copy the contacts.

He said: ‘Some of the images that came through, I was horrified.’

He added: ‘I couldn’t think that all those times someone led at the prayer and his character was like this.’

Mr Miah was being asked by Timothy Shorter, defending, why he went to early prayers on June 25 – the day after he, Rahman and others spoke about the alleged loans.

Mr Shorter said: ‘Did you go to early morning prayers and sit behind the Imam to put further pressure on him?’

Mr Miah said he had wanted to get a charger for the Imam’s laptop he had taken.

Edward Elton, prosecuting, asked about the images.

Mr Miah said: ‘To my horror what I saw was pornographic and that was the shock, that I couldn’t believe what I was seeing on the phone.’

Giving evidence, Mr Miah’s brother, Iraque Miah, told jurors that Rahman had asked him for £5,000 when he went to pick up his children after Rahman taught them.

He said: ‘He told me he was in a bit of trouble and he needed to go to London and take the £5,000.

‘He didn’t explain what sort of trouble.

‘I didn’t question it too much because he was the Imam and I wanted to help.’

He said Rahman came with him to his home in Waterlooville and ate while his mother counted out £5,000 in cash.

Mr Miah added: ‘He was completely misleading and he wasn’t going to repay the money.’

Mr Shorter suggested the money was a gift from the brothers’ mother to Rahman for leading their father’s funeral prayers. Iraque Miah denied this was true.

Rahman, 30, now of Lydgait, Haddington, Scotland, denies 18 charges of fraud by abusing his position by seeking loans which he did not intend to repay when due and/or knowing or believing there was a risk he would not repay the loans when due.

(Proceeding)