Manchester man jailed for COVID loan fraud

Matloob Hussain admitted to fraudulent Bounce Back loan applications while disqualified as a director

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:34pm

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A Manchester businessman named Matloob Hussain has been sentenced to two years and four months in jail after pleading guilty to making fraudulent COVID-19 Bounce Back loan applications for three companies while he was disqualified from serving as a director.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing problem of fraud related to COVID-19 relief programs, with criminals exploiting the emergency lending initiatives for personal gain. It also underscores the importance of director disqualification laws and the need for robust oversight to prevent abuse of government aid.

The details

Hussain admitted to making fraudulent Bounce Back loan applications for three different companies, despite being disqualified from serving as a director. The Bounce Back loan program was a UK government initiative launched in 2020 to provide emergency funding to small businesses impacted by the pandemic.

  • Hussain was sentenced on April 1, 2026.

The players

Matloob Hussain

A Manchester businessman who was jailed for two years and four months for making fraudulent COVID-19 Bounce Back loan applications while disqualified from serving as a company director.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing problem of fraud related to COVID-19 relief programs and the need for robust oversight to prevent abuse of government aid, as well as the importance of enforcing director disqualification laws.