Two more former members of staff at Bradford’s Kings Science Academy charged over fraud claims

Two more former members of staff at the Kings Science Academy free school face charges over allegations of fraud.
Kings Science Academy, Northside, Bradford.Kings Science Academy, Northside, Bradford.
Kings Science Academy, Northside, Bradford.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced today that it had charged former finance director Daud Khan with two offences of fraud by abuse of position and three of false accounting.

It has also charged former head of department Shabana Hussain with one offence of fraud by abuse of position and one offence of acquiring criminal property

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It follows the decision to charge former principal Sajid Hussain Raza with three offences of fraud by abuse of position, three offences of false accounting, two offences of obtaining a money transfer by deception, and one offence of fraud by false representation.

Julian Briggs, reviewing lawyer, Complex Casework Unit, CPS Yorkshire and Humberside said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has been working closely with West Yorkshire Police in connection with this case.

“Having carefully considered all of the evidence presented to us, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge Daud Khan (former Director of Finance) and Shabana Hussain (former Head of Department) with a range of offences relating to their involvement with the Kings Science Academy, Bradford, and that it is in the public interest to do so.

“Accordingly I have today authorised West Yorkshire Police to charge. They will first appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court shortly.

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“These defendants will be charged with serious criminal offences and have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

A statement from West Yorkshire Police said: “We have today reported two people for summons regarding past financial matters at Kings Science Academy in Bradford.

A 38-year-old woman has been reported for offences of fraud and acquiring criminal property, while a 43-year-old man has been summonsed for offences of fraud and false accounting.

Both are to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court on a date yet to be fixed.

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This relates to financial matters at the school between November 2010 and December 2013.It follows the school’s founder and former principal Mr Raza being charged on Friday last week.

A statement from Mr Raza’s solicitors said he was determined to clear his name regarding allegations in relation to his role at the free school.

He was the founder of the Kings Science Academy which was one of the first three free schools to open in Yorkshire in 2011. In its first year it was visited and praised by Prime Minister David Cameron.

The school became part of a police investigation after a Department for Education audit report into the school was leaked to the media in October 2013.

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The Yorkshire Post revealed in January last year that Mr Raza had been arrested.

He was later dismissed following a disciplinary investigation by the school into separate matters.

The school has since changed its name to Dixons Kings after joining the Dixons Academy chain in Bradford.