Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Conservative Councillor not to be investigated

Cllr Abdul Loyes

Cllr Abdul Loyes

A COMPLAINT claiming a Woodley councillor was involved in human trafficking and illegal immigration has been quashed.

Abdul Loyes, a Wokingham borough Tory councillor, had been accused of trying to defraud and compromise an Earley businessman and his company.

The complaint from Rudolph Hodgman claimed Cllr Loyes tried to involve his firm in illegal immigration and human trafficking and falsely obtained loans using his name.

Mr Hodgman, of Loxwood, and owner of a training company called On Site Training Assessment and Certification, registered the complaint against the Tory politician with the Standards Board for England.

In a decision notice, which forms part of the agenda for Wokingham Borough Council’s meeting of the standards committee tonight, the board said it would not investigate the complaint because its core was not related to Cllr Loyes in his official capacity.

Issues about fraud and deception are essentially matters for police to consider and in the circumstances it is considered this may be the most appropriate course of action,” the board’s Lucy Morris said in her report.

“With regards the Code of Conduct, it is noted from the information provided that Cllr Loyes’ alleged conduct appears to have occurred in his private capacity and not while he was acting in an official capacity as a member of the authority.”

She added: “The Standards Board for England has decided that the allegation should not be referred to an ethical standards officer for investigation.”

The Evening Post has asked Reading Police if officers were investigating Cllr Loyes, but spokesman Adam Fisher said there was no record of it.

Cllr Loyes, part owner of the Sardar Palace restaurant in King’s Road, dismissed the allegations as an attempt to damage his family name and said he would be prepared to answer questions from any authority wanting to investigate the matter.

We also contacted Mr Hodgman, who stood by his claims.

Source


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