A JURY will continue its deliberations tomorrow in the trial of three men who are accused of forming a fictitious agency to claim almost £600,000 in interpreters’ legal fees.
Mohammed Ayub, 55, a senior partner at Chambers solicitors in Bradford, his brother Mohammed Riaz, 48, and Neil Frew, 48, Chambers' immigration supervisor, are on trial at Sheffield Crown Court jointly charged with conspiracy to defraud.
It is alleged that between September 2010 and October 2014 they conspired together to create a “sham company” – known as Legal Support Services (LSS) – to claim the money in expenses from the Legal Aid Agency (LAA), a Government body that administers the legal aid system.
All three defendants deny the charge.
The court has been told that Ayub, of Aireville Drive, Shipley, was principal solicitor at Chambers, and Frew, of Hoyle Court Drive, Baildon, was a partner at the firm, which received a contract from the LAA for immigration work in October 2010.
Almost £600,000 had been paid into LSS accounts over a four-year period, but that company had no records of ever paying any corporation tax, VAT, or utility bills.
The postal address for LSS was listed as Fulton Street, situated at the back of Chambers premises in Grattan Road in Bradford city centre and the jury has been told that Riaz, of Southfield Square, Manningham, was the owner of LSS.
The jury, which started deliberations last Friday afternoon, was sent home tonight to resume tomorrow after being unable to reach verdicts.
The trial continues.
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