A MIGRANT hotel baron nicknamed “Goldfinger” will face trial over claims he defrauded a water firm out of £150,000 – all while raking in taxpayers’ cash.
Sheikh Abid Gulzar owns a number of flash hotels and two piers on the Sussex coast where he is famed for driving a gold Tesla.
The 80-year-old is charged with ten counts of fraud – with the total cost valued at around £150,000.
Some of the counts relate to alleged wrongdoings at the Boship Lions Hotel in Hailsham, Sussex, where millionaire Gulzar is said to have avoided paying Castle Water for their services.
The luxury retreat was used as an asylum hotel between 2022 and 2023, though the contract was terminated shortly after a resident took his own life.
When he took on the contract, the self-styled Sheikh claimed dwindling business in the hotel trade left him with no choice.
He also disclosed he was being paid £15,000-a-week for his 45 rooms with two beds each.
The “stunningly beautiful” Boships is an an original 1690s countryside house which boasts a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, gym and in-house cocktail bar.
Mr Gulzar said at the time: “The hotel trade is really suffering at the moment and what else are we supposed to do? No one is coming to stay in hotels anymore.
“The Boships was closed for two years during Covid and now we have a recession. No one has any money to spend”.
Gulzar denied the offences when he appeared at Brighton magistrates’ court at the start of July.
He wore a sparkling black waistcoat and walked with a stick as he entered and exited court alongside 34-year-old co-defendant Manasdeep Singh.
A three-week trial was fixed for next September at a brief hearing at Lewes crown court last week.
He was charged in a private prosecution by Castle Water.
Mr Gulzar bought Eastbourne Pier in 2015 before snapping up Hastings Pier in 2018.
He got his Bond-style nickname – ‘Goldfinger’ – after buying a gold Rolls-Royce and three gold Tesla cars.
Both men appeared at Hove Trial Centre on Tuesday where a three-week trial was fixed for September next year.
The Home Office said it could not comment on an ongoing criminal case.
Mr Gulzar was approached for comment.
Sheikh Abid Gulzar will face trial over claims he defrauded a water firm out of £150,000 – all while raking in taxpayers’ cash Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
