Fashion designer must wait over a year for Bentley trial
A fashion designer who claimed to own a perfume created by Michael Jackson must wait 14 months to stand trial for fraud and theft of a Bentley convertible.
HRH Arfaq, 51, who changed his name from Arfaq Hussain, claimed he had an agreement with the Brunei Royal Family to buy 200 Ghost bags in a deal worth £48 million.
Arfaq describes himself as a ‘reclusive genius’ and claims he designed some of Jackson’s most memorable clothes.
He is accused of two counts of fraud, acquiring criminal property and theft of a Bentley convertible belonging to Russian socialite Natalia Rotenberg.
It is alleged that between 2017 and 2018, Arfaq defrauded Mr Rotenberg, by falsely claiming he was entitled to £150,000 for ‘developing her brand’.
He assured Ms Rotenberg – the ex-wife of Vladimir Putin’s former billionaire judo partner Arkady Rotenberg – he was in the process of producing a ‘Natalia Rosenberg branded pen’ and presentation box with luxury pen brand Montegrappa.
Arfaq also claimed he had ordered a fibre optic folding roof system for Ms Rotenberg’s Bentley Convertible.
Arfaq is also charged with defrauding Deborah Martinelli Bonavia, a high-end designer, between 2018 and 2020.
It is alleged that Arfaq sold Ms Bonavia a fragrance which he claimed was made by Michael Jackson.
Arfaq told Ms Bonavia the fragrance was worth £44 million but charged her £370,000.
Arfaq did not attend Inner London Crown Court today (Thurs) but was represented by his lawyer.
Graham Atkins, 55, a partner at law firm Atkins Thomson, was also not present but he denied
two counts of making an article for use in fraud at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month.
It is alleged that Atkins falsified documents claiming to legitimise the link between Mr Arfaq and the Michael Jackson foundation.
Arfaq, of Fern Close, Batley, Yorkshire and Atkins, of Fleet Street, central London, remain on conditional bail ahead of their plea and trial preparation hearing at Inner London Crown Court on 21 October.
Judge Usha Karu fixed their trial date for 7 November 2022.
On his website, Arfaq claims to have been ‘personally appointed by Michael Jackson to become ‘Head of Personal Management’.
He also claims to have ‘devoted hundreds of hours to the creation of some of Michael’s most memorable pieces’.
Among these ‘memorable pieces’ Arfaq claims to have created Jackson’s ‘Healing Hands’ glove and iconic black suede slippers.
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