Six jailed for Slough local election fraud

Six men involved in a ghost voting scandal in the 2007 Slough local elections were jailed by Reading Crown Court today (Friday).

The sentences are in connection with the May 2007 local election, when Labour councillor Lydia Simmons lost her seat in Central ward to Raja Mohammed Eshaq Khan.

Former Conservative councillor Raja Mohammed Eshaq Khan, 52, of Oban Court , Montem Lane, Slough, admitted conspiracy to defraud the returning officer and perjury and was sentenced to a total of three-and-a-half years.

Mohammed Basharat Khan, aged 46, of Mirador Crescent , Slough , pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the returning officer and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He was jailed for a total of three years and four months.

Mahboob Khan, aged 46, of Quinbrookes, Slough, was jailed for a total of four-and-a-half years after he was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and perjury.

Arshad Mahmood Raja, aged 53, of Broadmark Road, Slough, was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the returning officer. He was jailed for a total of one-and-a-half years.

Altaf Khan, aged 31, of Knolton Way, Slough, was found guilty of personation and was sentenced to four months.

Gul Nawaz Khan, aged 57, of Richmond Crescent, Slough, pleaded guilty to perjury and was jailed for eight months.

Det Supt David Poole, senior investigating officer, said: "Today's sentences mark the end of a landmark case for Thames Valley Police.

"An election is arguably the most important event in a democracy and I would like to reassure the voting public that we will investigate and deal with any allegations of fraud in the run up to, or on, election day itself."

Steven Quayle, Slough Borough Council's Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer for the May 2007 local elections, said: "I'm pleased that justice has been seen to be done and I'm grateful to the investigating team for doing such an excellent job. This should act as a strong deterrent for anyone tempted to cheat the democratic process. Electoral fraud is a serious crime and these sentences reflect that."