Further to my post about Cllr Shelina Akhtar yesterday, the Met Police now tell me that she was arrested on suspicion of fraud on November 9. Another person connected to the case was arrested the following day. As I wrote, they have both been bailed to return to an east London police station on December 7.
However, there are some other details. Thames Magistrates’ Court has just told me that on July 27 this year, a Shelina Akhtar (whose date of birth was given as September 1978, ie now aged 32) received a conviction for three counts of benefit fraud. She was given a 12 month community service order and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work. She was also fined £250.
The prosecutors in the case were the Department for Work and Pensions. Her conviction states that “she failed to notify of a change in circumstances, namely that she was working between July 22, 2008 and April 5, 2009”. That is, she was wrongly claiming benefits for a period of nine months. At the time of the conviction, she gave her address as a flat in Blackwall Way in E14.
Cllr Shelina Akhtar was registered on the electoral roll at Toynbee Street, Spitalfields, in December 2009. According to Met Police sources, her age is 32.
The Town Hall is investigating whether this is the same person.
If so, some questions:
– was the Labour party aware of this when she was nominated to stand for them in Spitalfields (Abbas’s and Lutfur’s stronghold) in April 2010?
– was anyone in Tower Hamlets council aware of this?
– why did she ask the council after she was elected in May to amend her surname to Aktar?
UPDATE – 5.15pm
Graham Taylor, the chair of the Tower Hamlets Labour party has issued the following statement:
“Tower Hamlets Labour Party confirms that it was unaware of any prosecution at any point.
“As part of the applcaiton form and during the interview stage of the selection process to be a candidate, all applicants are asked whether:
– there are any interests that they would need to declare if elected
– whether there is anything that has happned to them that could cause embarassment to the party, and
– whether there is anything that would bar them for being a candidate.“Cllr Akhtar made no such declaration.”
Meanwhile, Labour group leader Helal Abbas has also issued a statement, saying he did not now about any allegations until told yesterday. He adds:
“Cllr Aktar had not declared anything of this nature to me when being selected as a Labour Candidate or since being elected to serve on the Council.
“I believe that all allegations against Councillors of wrong-doing should be investigated thoroughly using the Council’s mechanisms and appropriate action taken. I think it is important that all elected representatives act with integrity and set a good example to their constituents.”
I have tried calling Cllr Akhtar, but so far I’ve been unable to get through.
Trial by Jeory 
Oh My God, It is embarrassing to call this lady a councillor, she seems more happy to con people of Tower Hamlets than to support them.
This lady siphoning money of the poor and disadvantaged of Tower Hamlets.
If people like that are allowed in politics than why do we bother
I’ts nothin to be surprised about. It’s not like she murdered someone.
@ria begun
You aren’t bothered that the government loses £900 milllion each year to benefit fraud – and that one of our councillors is somebody who has contributed to that total?
You aren’t bothered that one of the reasons people can’t have homes or services is because people defraud the public purse so there isn’t enough money to go round?
Rather a lot of people in this country are VERY bothered about politicians who siphon off money for their own personal benefit – and they especially like to know who they are.
someone here said she is whiter than white, she seems more white than the usual now doesnt she.
I suggest Ted you stop digging for dirt, otherwise you will embarrass the local people of Spitalfields like me even more and also embarrass people who supported her. I feel ashamed.
also is she not Mayor Rahmans first cousinand was it not that mayor Rahman whilst leader of the Labour party made sure that she stood in the seat of SBT
sounds like an EXTREMLEY dodgy women, and this lady had she not been arrested on Nov 9th would have been on Lutfurs Cabinet in charge of a big fund.
Tower Hamlets has turned into a zone for corrupt councillors.
By the way she is Mayor Ltfurs first cousin and also Lutfur forced the Labour Party to select her as the Labour Candidate for the May elections.
TEd I urge you to stop digging otherwise their will be more contreversy.
In that case you will be their second cusin. Didn’t Helal Abbas give you the opportunity to stand for the Bi elections. He took his first cousin Alim. She was allowed to stand because she has the ability, which i belive you don’t have. Just for one mistakeshe shuldn’t be sacked.
I find it extradinary that she was allowed to continue as a Labour Party councillor once she was convicted as a benefit thief. Was she in the process of appealing the conviction? Did they even know she had was charged with an offence? It would be interesting to know how long she was in place as a prospective candidate i.e. did it predate her arrest and charging?
There also seems confusion over her actual address, in December 2009 she was living in Toynbee Street. Was this the address that appeared on the ballot paper in May? When did she move to Blackwall Way? Was she ever registered there? Or was this actually a ruse to hid her identity as a TH Councillor? Like the modification of her name.
I’d also be interested to know if she has complied with her Community Service Order. 100 hours is a lot to do on top of being a Councillor, campaigning for the Mayor etc. etc.
This case is clearly a strong argument for a an independent and well funded local press. One that can monitor the local courts proper and conduct investigative journalism.
Has there been any further detailed information about Ms Akhtar/Aktar’s current alleged offence, and does it relate in any way to her previous activities or any sort to “cover up” of them?
*properly
I’ve checked the Local Government Act 1972 which sets out the circs in which councillors can be disqualified and in the case of convictions it has to be a criminal conviction with a min 3 month prison sentence. So her penalty doesn’t disqualify her – and she wouldn’t be the first councillor in the UK to choose to hang on despite the PR disaster.
Councillors only get an allowance of £10,000 per year. Even the leader doesn’t earn £40,000 so where did you get that figure from?
Errm, have you read the statemnents from Abbas abd Taylor?
At the time I wrote the original comment, Ted had not updated his Post, so no I hadn’t. I’m pleased that Graham Taylor and Labour Group Leader Abbas have clarified the situation from their point of view. However I still feel it reflects badly on the “quality control” Labour exercised when selecting local candidates.
i think u need to read act1972 where it states councillors can represent people if they are not sentenced.accept if your a murderer.
In fact I was wondering why she had not been kicked out of the Labour Group rather than automatically disqualified as a Councillor. The 1972 Act says you must be sentenced to 3 months in Prison or longer in order to lose your seat. Since the Labour leadership in TH are denying any knowledge of her crime she couldn’t have been thrown out. It is interesting though that now she is an “Independent” her cloak of invisibility has vanished.
Well that’s helpful and clear it up from Abbas’s and Graham’s perspective. However it is essential that Mayor Rahman gives a response to this matter.
He was the Labour Leader of the Council at the time of the selections.
It is stated that he ensured that Shelina was selected. Shelina constantly supported Lutfur in his endeavours and barely campaigned with Abbas. It was never likely that Abbas would have known of this – and now he has made his position clear.
Can the same be said of Lutfur Rahman who after all appeared on TV with Lutfur and was plastered on his leaflets.
If you had a ‘secret’ to confide in someone would you do this to a enemy – or your benefactor?
Lutfur should respond.
First Cllr Abbas changes his surname from Uddin. Now Cllr Shelina changes hers to Aktar. Who is setting the example?! Spitalfields and so called Banglatown is marred by electoral irregularities London Labour keep failing to take action against. In addition to imposing the new mayor as a Labour candidate last May who has been reported to police by Cllr Folds the party’s bosses Graham Taylor and Ken Clark and Chris Weavers are witnessing two embarrassing declaration failures in November alone: first, Abdul Alim’s previous criminal conviction and imprisonment and now the ‘Shelinagate Scandal’. All of them should resign!
Why did Helal Abbus change his surname from Uddin?
Alim Bhai, if you are the candidate from the labour party i will definately support you. Don’t worry about what people say about you. Everyone makes mistakes in life. Don’t go against cllr Aktar because she made the same mistake like you.
In response to comment 2 – Is it a crime to change your name?
And, a lot of people has skeletons from the past but it dont mean everyone is the same, and even if they have made mistakes can they not be given a chance to amend it? Here this whole thing seems like some sort or nasty game. Everyone is accusing eachother left right n centre. Shouldnt people concentrate on things more important like improving their government and community rather than digging old graves.
Yes, but you haven’t explained why he changed his name. Does anyone know why Abbas changed his name? Ted do you?
did you get arrested during the election PWE INgham?
use your brain, i know you very well taj( i know wh u are), i know most of your secret, so don’t jump up and down with other people you migth brake your leg.Have you forgoten your past.it was a mistake listen think before you make comment about other people. things like taht happen in politices so stop talking crap.
Yes Ha Ha (or is it He He)? I and fellow running mate Martin Coxall were arrested after making a peaceful protest against the presence of John “two Jags” Prescot in Chrisp Street Market. Several Labour Party activists made serious accusations about our conduct. However after watching CCTV footage and interviewing “independent” witnesses, the Police and CPS threw the case out. So I am very cynical about accusations that originate with Labour.
I should not have to remind people that dispite her previous criminal career Ms Akhtar/Aktar is only under investigation regarding the current alleged offence.
There are a couple of things common here. Mayor Rahman when he was council leader chose a dodgy Shelina Ak(h)tar to represent Labour and SBT. Likewise Cllr Abbas chose a dodgy Abdul Alim to represent Labour and SBT. All four have very dodgy past. Is this a dodgy ward or is it just these people? Aktar and Alim must step down immediately as both failed to declare convictions thats causing public alarm and dismay at the council for hosting them.
There’s somewhat of a difference between Abdul Alim’s spent conviction twenty years ago for attacking Fascist thugs, and serving Councillor Shelina Ak(h)tar’s recent prosecution for benefit fraud and current investigation for illegal sub-letting.
One was an honourable crime a long time ago by an angry young man. The other is ripping off the poor citizens of Tower Hamlets many of whom are in desperate need of social housing.
people, do not make he he ha out of this small issue. people make geniune mistake. listen what if that was you in this situation and it was a genuine mistake. in life shit happen it does not mean that you should stop live your life. people who make big deal out of this little issue then they have real problem and those people are the most crupted people. Who does not lie man,you all do all time. many Mp has been suspended and many under investigation, so what she made mistake and she got panished. Who are we to judge other people, with out knowing any one don’t make comment. people make one mistake and you making big issue out of it. This women did not murderd any one man. look at fola uddin she got suspended, so what? in politicesthis things happen. Why was andrew sucked from bbc.
Councillots are ALL required to comply with the Members Code of Conduct. You can find this here http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/800001-800100/800015_council_constitution.aspx
This is the document: Part 5 – Codes and protocols (word, 500 kb)
Para 3.4 states that
“You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or the authority into disrepute.”
The Monitoring Officer and the Standards Committee of the Council are responsible for ensuring that the residents of this Borough enjoy the highest standards of behaviour by ALL councillors in the discharge of their duties to the borough and those who live and work here.
I would suggest that additional questions which also need to be asked include:
– Has this Councillor been the subject on an investigation by either the Monitoring Officer and/or the Standards Committee at any time.
– If not, why not?
– What actions does a Council normally take if and when a Councillor is convicted of an offence involving the fraudulent use of public funds?
Para 3.5 states
“You:
(a) must not use or attempt to use your position as a Member improperly to confer on or secure for yourself or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage; “
If, as alleged, Cllr Shelina Akhtar is a family member of Mayor Rahman, should there be an investigation into how Cllr Akhtar came to be selected and elected?
I do recommend reading the Members Code of Conduct. It offers lots of scope for lots of questions to be asked of the Council and its members.
This is also how ordinary electors get to exercise their rights if they are concerned about the conduct of their councillors.
And under Article 3 of the council constitution “Citizens Rights” it says:
“Complaints: All citizens have the right to complain to:
…
(iii) the Council’s Monitoring Officer about a breach of the Code of Conduct for Members.”
That’s probably repeating what you said in your last line but I wasn’t sure how the complaints mechanism got triggered.
Exactly right. All complaints need to be addressed to the Council’s Monitoring Officer.
I understand that this is Isabella Freeman who is listed on the Council’s website as Assistant Chief Executive [Legal Services] and Monitoring Officer.
You also do NOT have to be a Councillor to complain about how a Councillor’s behaviour breaches the standards they have taken an oath to uphold.
Do not believe what other people says. People make mistake and try to understand the situatin.Do not tell me you all are clean. lok back and see your self first.How do you know she has not mention about her conviction.She has not been to prison.Alim had his convictoin and been to prison it does not mean they can not represent people. do not forget most your family claming benefits. do not talk rubbish if yu d nt knw anything. she only got 1oo hurs unpaid work i think, now people are making things up onl because she supported lutfor. listen you all go and search for all your fiends and family first and then look for all the people in policices no one is clean.because one thing came out you making big he he ha ha out of this, dont belive everything what media says, use your brian. in plitices little things make big issue.look for big fishes who’s taken public money, think about genuine and honest mistake people make. listen mistake may happen by any one.
I’m afraid I – and many others like me – want ALL our councillors to be people who:
– understand the oaths they take about complying with all aspects of the Members Code of Conduct. Councillors should be people we can look up to and behave accordingly.
– do not lie when they give undertakings about not having been involved in any matters likely to bring organisations (or political parties). Politicians who lie are not credible.
– NEVER ever attempt to defraud tax payers of the money we pay to fund benefits. This is completely unforgiveable.
If any councillor does NOT understand the proper way to behave and he or she can and can’t do then I’m afraid they have no business being a councillor and should not attempt to represent other people.
Put simply, they need to put their own house in order first before they start trying to sort out other people’s problems.
A very interesting question Cllr Shelina Akhtar asked at the council meeting on Wednesday, 14 July 2010 at 7.30 p.m.
Click to access $$ADocPackPublic.pdf
7.27 Question from Councillor Shelina Akhtar to the Lead Member for Resources, Councillor David Edgar
“What are the likely effects of the coalition government’s plans to make £11bn in cuts to Welfare including cutting housing benefit, tax credits, Disability Living Allowance and freeze Child Benefit on residents in Tower Hamlets?”
Wonder why she wanted to know this, was it for her benefit or for her constituents….hehehehe…
[…] East London Advertiser hits the bull’s eye. It adds more detail to the story broken here yesterday that Cllr Shelina Akhtar is a benefit fraudster. So we learn from the ELA […]
Cllr Shelina Akhtar now has no choice but to resign. Mayor Rahman will have to decide what to do with this convict. Labour have already chosen another convict, Abdul Alim, by imposing him to stand in Spitalfields and will probably choose another if Cllr Akhtar resigns. Either way, doesnt make a difference…Spitalfields is doomed with bankrupt, criminal and fraudster polispiceans!
I see you still have not learned anything about the notion of a “spent conviction”.
See The Liberty Guide to Human Rights – How a Conviction becomes spent
# 8. Name changes
Okay, we see why Councillor Shelina Akhtar/Aktar may have changed her name but don’t see why Helal Abbas changed his name. Private Eye called it his “previous incarnation”….is that as Abbas Uddin?
SBT political history is well documented:
“…in 1985, it was a time of Cllr. Annie Elbaz, the majority members in Spitalfields were Bengali. Then we managed to select Abbas Uddin for the candidate for the bi-election. Then there was a division between us, like the Bangladesh Welfare Association and so on. The Welfare group decided to put forward Abdul Hannan as an independent candidate. There was a tough election campaign and subsequently Abbas won by just seven vote.”
(Sunahwar Ali – online oral history)
You people on here seem to be the experts. Can you tell the rest of us why another councillor in this “dodgy ward” seems to have changed their name? Why did this councillor – Abbas Uddin – change his name to Helal Abbas sometime after 1985? Is that true?
‘You couldn’t make it up!’ (Ted?) is right to say that we have expectations of our councillors whom we vote for to represent us and who they are and why they might change their name is important.
where i can see cllr Akhtar did not change her name, it’s only one letter that is missing. so technically there shouldn’t be an issue about changing names. You can clearly see her name remains the same only te letter ‘h’ is missing. so the name Aktar can be written whichever way she feels happy with.
Yes, the ‘h’ in Akhtar is not really a name change, agreed. Especially when the ‘h’ seems optional with Graham Taylor spelling it without and Helal Abbas with. Even in the council records from July 14 it was still with an ‘h’ even though Ms Akhtar/Aktar (Ted says) requested it was changed by the council after her election. Would be good for Ted to give us details of this request to the council. Would be especially good though if Ted could tell us if Councillor Helal Abbas changed his name from Abbas Uddin.
Or perhaps someone out there knows?
The only issue about name changes which is any way relevant to matters under discussion is if it is done with a view to deceive and cheat.
You’d expect an individual to always spell their name in a consistent fashion
You’d also expect them to spell it correctly if putting their name on a form to claim public money – or a vote.
Of course people’s names are spelt incorrectly by other people all time and it can be very irritating!
A number of people who contribute to this blog have demonstrated again and again just how easy it is to spell somebody’s name wrong.
Nope – Ted is not “You couldn’t make it up!’ because that’s me. 🙂
I’d find it really helpful if you stayed ‘on topic’ in your comments otherwise we might all get distracted from the REAL topic of this post – and then I’d feel a very strong urge to keep reminding people what that is ie BENEFITS FRAUD by an elected councillor.
Historical events associated with completely different people are NOT what this post is all about.
Yes but, some of us would still like to know why Helal Abbas changed his name?
@ Abdul Alim
Details of all councillor’s surgeries and how to contact them are given on the Council website. If you really want to know why he changed his name why don’t you go and ask him youself?
Nothing justifies these candidates’ failure to declare their (crimes) convictions, spent or otherwise, before the party judges who imposed them to stand in a public/tax funded council by-election. Utterly disgraceful even by electorally fraudulent Iraqi standards. There’s no such thing as an honorable crime when it is at the cost of someone else’s well being unless we all want to become Robbing Hoods!
100 hours of community service and £250 fine for benefit fraud ain’t too bad for someone earning £40,000 as a councillor, is it?!
£40k over 4 years!