Mosque leader jailed for sexually abusing two girls

Published on Wednesday 27 August 2008 21:52

A PROMINENT Muslim community leader who sexually abused girls aged 14 and 15 has been jailed for nearly four years.

Mosque leader Farooq Hussain – who prays five times daily – was jailed for 45 months after a jury yesterday found him guilty at Perth Sheriff Court.

Jailing the charity worker, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him that he took into account that Hussain had tried to blacken his young victims' names.

Hussain, 56, will also face a 30-month period on licence at the end of his jail term and will remain on the sex offenders' register for an indefinite period.

Mr Foulis noted that the girls had been doing casual work for the restaurateur and that he had abused a position of trust.

"You were convicted, in my opinion, on the clearest and most compelling evidence. As a result of going to trial, the two girls were required to give evidence."

Hussain had claimed that his DNA was found on saliva taken from one victim's breast because she had lifted her top and pushed it into his mouth.