COUNCILLORS ARRESTED IN POLICE SWOOP
LEADER INSISTS: NOBODY HAS BEEN CHARGED – WE HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG
A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE council leader has “vehemently” denied his party has committed any wrongdoing after councillors were arrested.
Jason Zadrozny, leader of Ashfield District Council for the Ashfield Independents, made the comments after police arrested six people, including “a number of” Ashfield Independent councillors, on Wednesday, as part of ongoing investigations into allegations of fraud.
Warrants were served at addresses in Sutton-in-ashfield, Kirkby-in-ashfield, Underwood, and Stanton Hill simultaneously by police officers.
Two men, aged in their 20s and 40s, and three women, aged in their 30s and 70s, have been questioned on suspicion of fraud, money laundering and misconduct in public office.
All three women were additionally arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
A man in his 50s and one of the women, in her 30s, were arrested on suspicion of fraud and electoral offences.
But Councillor Zadrozny said: “Nobody has been charged and we are all entirely confident of our innocence. “Obviously, we vehemently deny any wrongdoing.”
All six of those arrested have now been released while police investigation and inquiries continue.
Earlier yesterday, an Ashfield District Council spokesperson said: “The arrests yesterday of a number of Ashfield Independent councillors is an ongoing police matter and the council should not and will not comment further at this time.”