Juan Mourep
Vital 1st Team Regular
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30819561
Employees of Tower Hamlets Council were warned they may lose their jobs if they did not each illegally obtain 100 votes for Mayor Lutfur Rahman, according to court documents seen by BBC London.
Mayor Rahman and his party face claims of corrupt practices and exerting undue spiritual influence on voters.
A file obtained by the BBC now provides a raft of detail on the allegations Mr Rahman faces in court next month.
"During the meeting both council managers and agents of the First Respondent [Mayor Rahman] instructed each of those attending to obtain 100 votes each for the First Respondent; and informed them that, if they did not do so, they may lose their jobs.
"It was made clear that these votes should be obtained by illegal means, including through postal voting fraud."
at another restaurant meeting in the period: "The First Respondent attended together with all or almost all the Tower Hamlets First candidates for the Council elections and some activists.
"The First Respondent told all assembled activists that they must fill up to 250 postal vote application forms each.
a letter was published by a newspaper in Bengali with a circulation in the borough of about 20,000 entitled "Be United Against Injustice; Make Lutfur Rahman Victorious".
This was signed by 101 leaders of the Islamic community in the borough, including chairmen of Mosques and the head teachers of religious schools.
The petitioners allege the effect was to indicate that a vote against Mayor Rahman would be un-Islamic and sinful.
They claim Mr Rahman corruptly attempted to influence these religious leaders by giving them grants of public money ranging from £8,000 to £25,000, alleging that a total of £278,000 was given out in this way.
Employees of Tower Hamlets Council were warned they may lose their jobs if they did not each illegally obtain 100 votes for Mayor Lutfur Rahman, according to court documents seen by BBC London.
Mayor Rahman and his party face claims of corrupt practices and exerting undue spiritual influence on voters.
A file obtained by the BBC now provides a raft of detail on the allegations Mr Rahman faces in court next month.
"During the meeting both council managers and agents of the First Respondent [Mayor Rahman] instructed each of those attending to obtain 100 votes each for the First Respondent; and informed them that, if they did not do so, they may lose their jobs.
"It was made clear that these votes should be obtained by illegal means, including through postal voting fraud."
at another restaurant meeting in the period: "The First Respondent attended together with all or almost all the Tower Hamlets First candidates for the Council elections and some activists.
"The First Respondent told all assembled activists that they must fill up to 250 postal vote application forms each.
a letter was published by a newspaper in Bengali with a circulation in the borough of about 20,000 entitled "Be United Against Injustice; Make Lutfur Rahman Victorious".
This was signed by 101 leaders of the Islamic community in the borough, including chairmen of Mosques and the head teachers of religious schools.
The petitioners allege the effect was to indicate that a vote against Mayor Rahman would be un-Islamic and sinful.
They claim Mr Rahman corruptly attempted to influence these religious leaders by giving them grants of public money ranging from £8,000 to £25,000, alleging that a total of £278,000 was given out in this way.
