Election fraud gang back in court

Published in Slough & Langley Observer Website on Sun 16th Nov 2008

SLOUGH's former deputy mayor Mohammed Aziz and disgraced ex-councillor Eshaq Khan have denied involvement in the town's election fraud fiasco.

The Tory duo pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud when they appeared at Reading Crown Court on Monday, last week.

Khan, who went by his full name Raja Mohammed Eshaq, was previously found guilty by a special election court for vote rigging in Slough's May 2007 local elections where he unseated Labour's Lydia Simmons after 23-year in power in the Central-ward.

The 51-year-old, of Oban Court, Chalvey, also denied conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and perjury.

Khan and Aziz, 50, of Wellesley Road, were joined by six other Slough men who only spoke to confirm their pleas and details. During the hearing, Arshad Raja, 52, of Broadmark Road, Yasar Mumtaz, 20, of Wellesley Road, and Altaf Khan, 31, of Knolton Way, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud, while Mohammed Khan, 45, of Mirador Crescent, pleaded guilty to the charge.

Gulnawaz Khan 57, of Richmond Crescent, and Mahboob Khan, 46, of Quinbrookes, also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

But Mohammed Khan also pleaded guilty to that charge but will not be sentenced until the whole trial is over.

Mohammed Khan, Gulnawaz Khan and Mahboob Khan, all denied perjury.

Altaf Khan denied impersonation.

All eight men were granted unconditional bail and will return to the court on Monday, January 19 for the pre-trial hearing, before the trial on Monday, February 2.