Former Councillor Convicted in Sham COVID-19 Testing Scheme

A former councillor has been found guilty of running a bogus coronavirus testing laboratory during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faisal Shoukat, who previously served on Calderdale Council, was convicted of causing public nuisance, fraudulent trading, and money laundering following a trial at Bradford Crown Court.

Four other individuals tried alongside Shoukat, including former justice minister Shahid Malik, Lynn Connell, Paul Moore, and Dr. Alexander Zarneh, were cleared of all charges.

The verdicts were delivered by His Honour Judge Chris Smith. The jury had been discharged in April during their deliberations due to the arrest of one member on suspicion of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

RT Diagnostics was established in March 2021, with Shoukat and Mr. Malik listed as directors. The company was formed after the government encouraged private firms to assist in meeting testing demands, including 'Fit-to-Fly' tests.

Prosecutors argued that Shoukat, then a Labour councillor, was the "controlling mind" of the Halifax-based company. The court heard that test kits sourced from Turkey and distributed to customers did not meet required UK standards. Additionally, the lab reported a "suspiciously low" number of positive tests between May and July 2021, with 123,104 tests yielding only 45 positive results, 123,058 negative, and one indeterminate.

A video surfaced in July 2021, reportedly showing test kits being discarded in a side room and the company's laboratory in poor condition, with rubbish on the floor, exposed ceilings, and bin bags outside. Medical safety inspectors described the site as a "building site" and noted evidence of people living there.

Judge Smith characterized the company's approach to the accreditation process as "cavalier" and "careless."

Shoukat, a pharmacist, testified during the trial that he received approximately £1.5 million in shares from the firm. Mr. Malik, also a co-director, received a similar amount, though the court heard he was not involved in the company's daily operations and lived outside the UK for part of its existence.

Mr. Malik, Ms. Connell, Mr. Moore, and Dr. Zarneh were all acquitted of the charges against them.