HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – Hamtramck City Council member Mohammed Hassan is one step closer to trial after a judge ruled there is enough evidence that he forged an absentee ballot application in 2023.
Local 4 investigators have been following the turmoil inside Hamtramck’s city hall, uncovering wild accusations and criminal charges.
A source close to the case revealed on Thursday (Oct. 16) that prosecutors believe Hassan filed an absentee ballot application under the name of Zerin Sultana, claiming he helped her submit it.
However, Sultana testified she never asked for a ballot, never signed the form, and does not even vote.
A Michigan State Police handwriting analysis confirmed the signature on the application was not hers.
The judge said Hassan clearly signed the application, knowing Sultana had not.
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Hassan faces multiple felony charges, including election law forgery and making false statements on a ballot application.
This case is part of a larger investigation into alleged election misconduct at Hamtramck City Hall.
Another council member, Muhtasin Sadman, also faces election fraud charges and is due in court Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, for a preliminary hearing.
These charges stem from a two-month investigation led by a special prosecutor after the attorney general’s office requested a review of allegations that Hassan, Sadman, and others tried to submit absentee ballots on behalf of newly naturalized citizens.