A CITY estate and lettings agent has been arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering following a probe by police and Trading Standards officers.

Zulfiqar Hussain, of Kenilworth Avenue, East Oxford, will appear before Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Friday, October 15.

The 42-year-old – also known as Zogey – was arrested following raids on Charles Lawson (Lettings) Limited, in Cowley Road, and a house in Bartlemas Road, in November.

The offices of James C Penny Estate and Letting Agents, in Walton Street, Jericho, and a flat, were also searched.

Ian Marriott, who is managing the case on behalf of Oxfordshire Trading Standards, declined to comment because of ongoing court proceedings.

However, the charges relate to offences alleged to have taken place between September 2007 and last month, the Oxford Mail has learned.

Hussain faces eight charges of fraud, which are linked to tenants’ deposits.

He faces six charges related to breaching regulations listed in the Unfair Trading Regulations Act 2008.

They are linked to properties in East Avenue, East Oxford, Jasmine Way, in Carterton, Thomas Street, in Oxford, Ridgefield Road, in Oxford, Hurst Street, in Oxford, and Quakers Court, in Abingdon.

Hussain is also accused of two counts of money laundering – one in connection with £150,000, which was allegedly concealed or disguised between February 2008 and December 2009, and also a charge relating to possession of £1,457.36.

He appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court for an initial hearing on Friday, September 3, and was granted unconditional bail.

According to records at Companies House from May last year, Hussain was a director of Charles Lawson (Lettings) which was registered at 11 Glanville Road, Oxford.

The firm is no longer trading.

He was also appointed a director of James C Penny (Estate Agents) and of James C Penny (Lettings) on January 28 last year. Both are still trading. However, Hussain’s appointment was terminated in December.

Penny and Sinclair estate agents, of Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford, was founded last year by James Penny and Wendy Sinclair.

It is completely separate to James C Penny.

Penny and Sinclair is an independent company which offers sales, lettings, short let and holiday let services.

In a statement last night, James Penny of Penny & Sinclair said: “In order to avoid any further confusion, we would like to emphasise that we have no connection at all with James C Penny, Walton Street.”