Tower Hamlets: Close ally of corrupt former Mayor Lutfur Rahman jailed for fraud

Jailed: Shahed Ali pleaded guilty to housing fraud
Patrick Grafton-Green28 October 2016
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A close ally of corrupt former Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman has been jailed for housing fraud.

Tower Hamlets councillor Shahed Ali was sentenced to five months in prison after admitting the offence.

Ali, who has been disqualified from office, was a supporter of Mr Rahman and served in his Cabinet before the former Mayor was kicked out of office in disgrace after being found guilty of electoral fraud last year.

The 45-year-old independent is thought to have cost the council over £70,000 in legal fees.

He spent months denying the charges but pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial last month.

If he had pleaded guilty when first accused on December 9 last year the cost would reportedly have been less than £4,000, the council said.

Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs added: “It’s disgraceful that instead of serving his constituents Shahed Ali chose not only to commit housing fraud but then to lie about it, costing taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds in legal fees.

“It’s entirely right that he is kicked off the council.”

Ali pleaded guilty to one count of housing fraud after failing to notify the council of a change in his circumstances between the date that he completed a housing application form and the date that he accepted a council tenancy.

He also failed to disclose that he owned two properties.

A by-election will be held in his ward, Whitechapel, most likely on December 1. Ali may not stand for office again for five years.

Councillor Peter Golds, of London Borough of Tower Hamlets Conservative Group, said: "Shahed Ali is the second Rahman supporting Tower Hamlets councillor jailed for housing fraud.

"This man could have resigned from the council when his fraud became known, whilst doing nothing for the people that he was elected to serve.

"He is gone now but the stench of the Tower Hamlets First corruption still hangs over the town hall. This corrupt and venal man will not be missed."

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