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Ex-councillor Faisal Shoukat found guilty of running sham Covid-19 testing lab
Overview
Former Calderdale Council member Faisal Shoukat has been convicted at Bradford Crown Court of causing public nuisance, fraudulent trading, and money laundering for operating a bogus coronavirus testing laboratory called RT Diagnostics in Halifax. Four co-accused individuals were cleared of all charges following a trial that faced delays after a juror was arrested.
Key points
- Faisal Shoukat was convicted of causing public nuisance, fraudulent trading, and money laundering.
- Four co-accused individuals—Shahid Malik, Lynn Connell, Paul Moore, and Dr Alexander Zarneh—were cleared of all charges.
- The bogus firm, RT Diagnostics based in Halifax, reported 123,104 tests between May and July 2021, with only 45 returning positive.
- Medical safety inspectors described the laboratory site as a 'building site' with evidence of people living there and rubbish strewn across the floor.