September 3rd 2023.
Qaisaq Shaffi, a 45-year-old man, was convicted of terror offences in both the UK and US in 2007. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to murder after travelling to New York to scope out targets before the 9/11 attack.
Shaffi was released halfway through his sentence in 2015 on licence, and is believed to have then joined Asda, working his way up to a managerial role over the years. He is said to have left the company last month, with no clear explanation for his sudden departure.
It was only last year that his legal history emerged at an employment tribunal for an Asda colleague who had been let go for inappropriate conduct and was suing for unfair dismissal. The former supermarket worker pointed out that Shaffi had not been sacked despite his terror conviction, and the tribunal concluded that the company knew of his background and considered him to be a suitable person to work there.
On its website, Asda states that workers might be asked about previous criminal convictions or carry out criminal records checks to confirm suitability for some roles, such as working in the pharmacy or with children. However, the company has stated that it does not routinely ask applicants to disclose whether they hold an unspent criminal conviction.
The early release of prisoners serving a determinate sentence was brought into question following the release of Usman Khan, who was responsible for the 2019 London Bridge stabbings. As a result, fixed sentences have been blocked, which saw prisoners eligible for early release halfway through a prison term.
Metro Online has approached Asda for comment on the matter. It is still unclear why Shaffi left the company, and what implications this may have for his licence conditions.
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