2 US citizens of Bangladeshi origin jailed for voter fraud

Two U.S. citizens of Bangladeshi origin have been sentenced to prison for voter fraud during a mayoral election in Pennsylvania. A third suspect in the same case is awaiting sentencing.

On June 18, a federal court in southeastern Pennsylvania convicted Nurul Hasan, a former vice president of the Millbourne Borough Council and mayoral candidate, and Rafiqul Islam, a former council member. A third individual, Mansur Ali, currently serving on the council, is expected to be sentenced soon. All three are of Bangladeshi descent.

In April, all three pleaded guilty to charges of election-related fraud. Prosecutors said the group conspired to manipulate the outcome of the Millbourne mayoral election by registering fake voters and submitting fraudulent mail-in ballots in favor of Hasan. Around three dozen false votes were cast through this scheme.

Judge Harvey Bartle III, who presided over the case, called Hasan’s actions a serious offense that harmed the integrity of the U.S. democratic process.

Hasan was sentenced to 36 months in prison and one year of supervised release. Islam received one year and one day in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $1,700 fine.

Despite their efforts, Hasan lost the Democratic primary to current council member Mahbubul Tayeb.

Commenting on the case, Delaware County Elections Director Jim Allen said, “Incidents like this damage public trust in elections not just locally, but across the nation. This was driven by one individual’s illegal attempt to gain office.”