Covid tests company charged with misleading its customers

A WEST Yorkshire business and five individuals will appear before Bradford Crown Court next month, facing numerous charges relating to Covid-19 tests.

Dewsbury-based RT Diagnostics faces 11 charges, including misleading customers that their test results would be returned within 24 hours and ringing a customer late at night to pressure them to remove a negative review from a website.

Details of the charges, and charges against five people, were heard at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court. Magistrates were told that the case was so serious it could only be dealt with in the Crown Court.

The case is being brought by West Yorkshire Trading Standards.

RT Diagnostics is facing 11 charges, including:

■ Engaging in a commercial practice which was aggressive, by calling a consumer late in the evening stating they would receive a refund if they removed negative posts online.

■ Engaging in a commercial practice which, by omission, was misleading in that its factual context hid material information – that the product had been approved, endorsed or authorised by a public or private body.

■ Engaging in a commercial practice which was a misleading action in that it contained false information and was therefore untruthful, by claiming on the company website that all test results would be sent to consumers within 24 hours.

■ Carrying on a business of making or processing medical devices – Covid 19 testing kits – contrary to safety regulations.

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/disguising/converting/transferring/removing 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/disguising/converting/transferring/removing 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, Shokat 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 and September 1 2021.

The case against them and RT Diagnostics will next be heard at Bradford Crown Court on May 23.