Former councillor in dock over election fraud probe
HE IS ONE OF FOUR CHARGED WITH PERVERTING JUSTICE
A FORMER councillor from Derby has appeared in court over alleged election fraud in the city.
Asaf Afzal was one of four people to appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court having been charged by the police following an investigation into tampering with postal votes.
The ex-councillor, who is also Chairman of the Pakistan Community Centre in Derby, was not asked to enter any plea to a single charge of perverting the course of justice.
His case, along with the three coaccused was sent to Derby Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled for the week commencing April 19.
Afzal ran to be re-elected for the Labour Party in the city council elections in May, 2019.
But the 53-year-old, of Colwyn Avenue, Littleover, was voted off.
In a statement released in February, Derbyshire police said: “Four people have been charged with perverting the course of justice following enquiries into an alleged incident of election fraud relating to the Derby City Council elections in May 2019.
“Mohan Singh, 77 – (has been charged with) two counts of perverting the course of justice;
“Baljit Rehalu, 41 – two counts of perverting the course of justice;
“Mohinder Rehala, 53, – one count of perverting the course of justice. “All are of Clarence Road, Derby. “Asaf Afzal, 53, of Colwyn Avenue, Derby – one count of perverting the course of justice.”
The charges relates to an investigation which began in the run-up to the 2019 Derby City Council elections.
At the time Afzal was the Labour candidate for Abbey ward. Hoping to retain his seat on the council he held at the time he received 1,288 votes But following the vote he was ousted by Liberal Democrat candidate and now sitting councillor Ajit Atwal who received 1,505 votes.
While serving on the council he held positions including cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Public Protection.