Four men jailed after murdering former friend and dumping body in shallow grave

Amraj Poonia, 28, murdered 27-year-old Mohammed Shah Subhani in a row over missing cannabis on 7 May 2019. Later that day, Raneel Poonia, 26, was captured on CCTV assisting his brother to move Mr Subhani’s body from the premises of their family-owned business to his vehicle.

Mr Subhani’s body was then hidden for four days in the West London area before Raneel Poonia and Mahamud Ismail, 27, travelled to the Buckinghamshire countryside to dispose of the body in a shallow, secluded grave.

During this time, Amraj Poonia visited the Subhani family home, where he told the family he would help them to find their missing son. Meanwhile, Mohanad Riad, 23, used his mother’s mobile phone to obtain false numberplates for Mr Subhani’s vehicle in an attempt to cover up the murder.

Upon discovery of Mr Subhani’s body months later in woodlands in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, it was found to have been partially burned.

The four defendants appeared at the Old Bailey today after being found guilty by a jury in July. Amraj Poonia was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years for the murder of Mr Subhani. For perverting the course of justice, Raneel Poonia, Mahamud Ismail and Mohanad Riad, 23, were sentenced to seven years, five years and six months and 38 months respectively.

Amee Patel, Senior Crown Prosecutor in the London Homicide Unit, said: “This was an horrific murder, and the level of betrayal was beyond words. The Poonia brothers were treated like family by the Subhanis and were regular visitors to their family home, including the night before Mohammed Shah Subhani was murdered.

“The offenders in this case thought that disposing the body would cover their brutal acts. But in doing so, they have robbed a family of the opportunity to give their loved one a proper burial. This has haunted the Subhani family.

“This was a dedicated and thorough investigation by the police which enabled the prosecution to prove that Amraj Poonia was the killer of Mr Subhani, and that the co-defendants had roles in removing and concealing his body.

“Our thoughts are with Mr Subhani’s family who remain devastated by their loss.”