Published: 11 Feb 2011

http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/3404820/Sarwars-son-cleared-of-money-laundering.html

THE son of former MP Mohammed Sarwar yesterday had a conviction for money laundering overturned.

Athif Sarwar, 32, was sentenced to three years' jail after being found guilty of using his family's cash-and-carry firm to conceal £845,000 of VAT frauds.

But appeal judges ruled that there was no evidence that he knew "dirty money" was pouring into his Glasgow warehouse's bank account.

As he left the Appeal Court in Edinburgh with his son, Mohammad Sarwar said his family had suffered years of "living hell" following the 2007 conviction.

The ex-politician said: "I knew from day one that he is innocent and has done nothing wrong."

Athif was accused of taking thousands of pounds from a customer who had cheated the taxman of VAT.

But yesterday judges Lords Hamilton, Osborne and Eassie said firms could unwittingly handle fraudulent money. Lord Hamilton said the case "failed to focus" on how much Athif knew.