UKIP’s former Commonwealth spokesman used to lead a kidnapping gang in Pakistan.
Mujeeb ur Rehman Bhutto, 35, admitted being the gang’s leader in 2005 and was jailed for seven years for conspiracy to blackmail by an English court according to information uncovered by the BBC’s Newsnight programme. Bhutto told reporters that he admitted the charges rather than faces being deported to Pakistan where he may have faced the death penalty, but claimed that the allegations were part of a political rivalry.
Bhutto was arrested by British police working with their counterparts in Pakistan, after the son of a wealthy businessman was kidnapped, and money was exchanged in Manchester for his release after threats of torture. Bhutto was then found by police to have hidden the £56,000 from the exchange in his bed.
After serving his time in prison, Bhutto joined UKIP in 2011 and regularly represented the party in national media and canvassed with candidates.
Bhutto eventually resigned from the party as recently as last year, with a party spokesperson saying that they were only just made aware of his past criminal activity. However, the scandal will be another blow to UKIP who have been trying to professionalise and leave their past amateur reputation behind them.
Since leaving UKIP, Bhutto has tried to join the Conservative party, but was rejected.
