Accrington man found guilty of electoral fraud

Friday, May 3, 2024

An Accrington man has been found guilty of an offence of electoral fraud in relation to a local election.

Mohammed Navid Afzal, 41, of Whalley Road, Accrington, stood trial at Preston Crown Court this week.

After a five-day trial, Afzal was convicted by a jury of one offence of fraud by corrupt practice in an election under the Representation of the People Act 1983.

He was standing as a Conservative Party candidate for Netherton ward on 5^th May 2022 in local elections in Hyndburn.

Afzal submitted a nomination paper which showed 10 signatures of local voters agreeing to his nomination as candidate.

The case against him was that one of those signatures was false and that Afzal knew it was false when he submitted it.

Afzal will be sentenced at Burnley Crown Court on 21st June.

Det Con Nicolas Walker of Blackburn CID, said: “It is vital during elections that democracy is protected.

“Lancashire Police will thoroughly investigate any claims of wrongdoing in the election process.”