Spending Everlasting Life in Jail...Leader of religious movement jailed for thuggery
Three members of a religious movement who attacked two former followers have been jailed for a total of 11 years.
The victims were members of The World of Yaad, which claims to hold the secret to everlasting life.
They angered their attackers after they left the religion, and were also embroiled in a bitter business dispute with them.
The trio forced their way into a restaurant owned by the victims and made threats before seriously injuring one of the victims, who lives in Rickmansworth. The man received serious facial injuries and has since undergone facial reconstruction.
Francesco Zand was jailed for seven years for grievous bodily harm with intent and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent. Mohammed Kashefi, who pleased guilty to actual bodily harm, received a two year prison term. Mehdi Zand, the leader of The World of Yaad, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to violent disorder.
Detective Sergeant Kevin Brown said: This was a violent targeted attack on two individuals over both the ownership of the restaurant and simply because of the injured parties' disassociation with Mehdi Zand's movement.
