A POLLING agent is set to appear before magistrates accused of conspiracy to defraud Burnley’s returning officer.
Asif Manzur, 35, has been charged in relation to the May 2010 borough elections for Burnley’s Daneshouse and Stoneyholme ward and will appear in court on March 3.
Manzur, who lives in Daneshouse, Burnley, was an agent of defeated Liberal Democrat candidate Tahir Nawaz.
Returning officer Steve Rumbelow reported concerns regarding voting patterns to police immediately after the result was announced and an investigation was conducted by Det Insp Dave Groombridge, head of Pendle CID.
Labour’s Shah Hussain secured the seat with a 483-vote majority over Mr Nawaz, with the Conservatives’ Philip Nutter on 101.
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