Company faces court case over Covid testing
A WEST Yorkshire business and five individuals will appear in court next month, facing numerous charges relating to Covid-19 tests.
RT Diagnostics, based in Dewsbury, faces 11 charges.
These include allegedly misleading customers that their Covid-19 test results would be returned within 24 hours. It is also claimed they rang a customer late at night to pressure them to remove a negative review from a website.
They are also charged with making or processing Covid-19 testing kits contrary to safety regulations.
Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court ruled that the case must be dealt with at Crown Court.
The case is being brought by West Yorkshire Trading Standards. Five people also appeared at court charged with offences relating to the business.
Lynn Connell, 62, of Ash Hall, Ripponden, was charged with causing a public nuisance and carrying on with a business with the intent to defraud creditors, or for other fraudulent purposes.
Shahid Malik, 55, of Colne Road, Burnley, was charged with causing a public nuisance, carrying on with a business with the intent to defraud creditors, or for other fraudulent purposes, and concealing or transferring criminal property.
Paul Moore, 54, of Plover Street, Burnley, was charged with causing a public nuisance and carrying on with a business with the intent to defraud creditors, or for other fraudulent purposes.
Faisal Shoukat, 36, of Saville Park, Halifax, was charged with causing a public nuisance, carrying on with a business with the intent to defraud creditors, or for other fraudulent purposes and concealing or transferring criminal property.
Alexander Zarneh, 69, of Wood Lane, Hipperholme, was charged with causing a public nuisance and carrying on with a business with the intent to defraud creditors, or for other fraudulent purposes.
Connell, Shoukat and Zarneh pleaded not guilty to their charges, while Moore and Malik gave no indication as to their plea.
All the charges put to the five individuals relate to a period between March 3, 2021 and September 1, 2021.
The case will next be heard at Bradford Crown Court on May 23.