Two Hamtramck city council members are facing multiple election law charges.
An investigation into the 2023 Hamtramck City Council election, covering July 1 to November 7, revealed alleged election fraud.
Council member Muhtasin Sadman is charged with five counts, including forging a signature on an absentee ballot application, forgery, two counts of unqualified elector attempting to vote, and making a false statement on an absentee ballot application.
These charges carry penalties ranging from misdemeanors with up to 90 days in jail and fines, to felonies with up to five years in prison and fines.
Council member Mohammed Hassan faces three counts: forging a signature on an absentee ballot application, forgery, and making a false statement on an absentee ballot application, with similar penalties.
This all started back in March when Michigan’s attorney general, Dana Nessel, requested a special prosecutor to investigate election crimes involving four current and one former Hamtramck city council members.
The probe began after the city clerk noticed unusual patterns with absentee ballots — including identical handwriting on multiple envelopes and large bundles of ballots submitted at once.
The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office took over the case in May.
Several law enforcement agencies worked together on thorough investigations and submitted their findings to the prosecutor’s office.
Local 4 reached out to Sadman and Hassan for comment. Sadman said he would get back to us, while Hassan has not responded as of this article’s publication.