A landlord in west London has been hit with a £1.44 million fine under the Proceeds of Crime Act for repeatedly violating planning regulations and ignoring legal orders.
Ali Bahbahani, currently without a fixed address, did not show up at his Isleworth Crown Court hearing on January 25, 2024. Along with the fine, he has been ordered to pay over £16,000 for outstanding council tax and business rates. Ealing Council aims to collect the total sum of £1,283,444.
Bahbahani faced additional charges for illegally converting a house into flats, which included an unauthorized extension on Waldegrave Road, Ealing, and for not adhering to orders to stop the use of and remove the unauthorized work.
Justin Morley, from the council’s legal department, emphasized the scale of the confiscation and attributed it to both the officers’ dedication and their adherence to legal processes.
Ealing Council has been attempting to have the property restored to its original state since 2013. It emerged in the legal proceedings that an impostor acting as Mr. Bahbahani attended the first court sessions, leading to complications in the case.
After several court hearings, the case closed at Isleworth Crown Court in January.
An impostor representing Bahbahani appeared at the early hearings, causing delays in the proceedings.
Cabinet member Cllr Shital Manro condemned the blatant planning violations and reminded property owners of the importance of obtaining necessary planning permission to avoid legal issues and hefty fines.
The Waldegrave Road property has been bought by a new owner, and the council is collaborating with them to remedy the unauthorized construction work.
