Manizja Latifi, the barrister representing the Candy Corner stores, told the court Twana Jamal, was not an owner, director or employee at either shop, and said he had “no control whatsoever” at the mini-marts.She told the court Jamal was a “distant relative” of the owner and on the day BBC News visited the store he was assisting the owner due to “childcare responsibilities”. Latifi said the “online hostility” which followed the BBC News coverage was “shocking” and “very distressing”. “We are looking at dozens and dozens of threats being made on Facebook,” she said. The hearing was told the owner had received phone calls and messages from people threatening to “burn the shop down” if it were to reopen.”We say that if a closure order is made it simply delays risk we are facing, it does not address it,” Latifi said.Latifi added those making threats “cannot be given power” over whether a business trades or does not.She suggested a two-week closure order as well as ensuring Twana Jamal never attends or is employed at either premises would address the risk posed.Magistrate Miss Clifton told the court there was “consensus about this unfortunate disorder” which included personal threats and there was “a risk” to residents who lived locally.She said on the “balance of probability” it was necessary for the premises to remain closed.A BBC investigation found Jamal is believed to have been seeking asylum in the UK. He told us he had applied and was “still waiting”. It is not known what name he used on any application.UK law says anyone who has spent 12 months or more in prison overseas should be refused asylum.The Iraqi Kurd was given a five-year jail sentence in France in 2016, where authorities described him as one of the most successful people smugglers ever caught – earning up to £100,000 a week from moving illegal immigrants across the Channel.At that time, the mode of travel preferred by cross-channel smugglers was freight lorries rather than small boats.
Shops linked to people smuggler in Blaby closed due to disorder fear
