‘Serious offence’ found in London local election probe

A £1.7MILLION criminal probe into the 2014 Tower Hamlets mayoral election has ended with no charges but has uncovered evidence of a crime “not directly linked” to electoral fraud.

Scotland Yard announced yesterday that the inquiry had revealed “prima facie evidence” of a serious offence, which has been passed to the City of London police due to its “nature”.

But it said the year-long probe “has not identified sufficient additional evidence or investigative opportunities” in relation to “electoral fraud and malpractice” to pass on to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Operation Lynemouth was launched in May 2017 after an Election Court found former mayor Luftur Rahman guilty of corrupt and illegal practices.

Mr Rahman, Britain’s first elected Muslim mayor, was forced to step down, but has not faced criminal prosecution. The Election Commissioner ordered him to pay £250,000 costs and he was barred from standing again in elections.