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No charges in council fraud probe No charges in council fraud probe
(39 minutes later)
No charges are to be brought against three people held over allegations of fraud at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.No charges are to be brought against three people held over allegations of fraud at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Former elected mayor Mark Meredith, Councillor Rober Ibbs and businessman Mo Chaudry were arrested.Former elected mayor Mark Meredith, Councillor Rober Ibbs and businessman Mo Chaudry were arrested.
Staffordshire Police said the Crown Prosecution Service had advised no further action should be taken.Staffordshire Police said the Crown Prosecution Service had advised no further action should be taken.
The claims concerned the council's proposed closure of the Splash Pool facility at Dimensions Leisure Centre, in Burslem.The claims concerned the council's proposed closure of the Splash Pool facility at Dimensions Leisure Centre, in Burslem.
We are now considering whether any issues surrounding these inquiries need to be referred to the council's standards committee Council spokesman Fact-finding mission
Mr Ibbs was arrested on suspicion of corruption in public office in February followed a month later by Mr Meredith on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and complicity in corruption while in public office.Mr Ibbs was arrested on suspicion of corruption in public office in February followed a month later by Mr Meredith on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and complicity in corruption while in public office.
Mr Chaudry, millionaire owner of Stoke-on-Trent attraction Waterworld, was arrested in April on suspicion of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office.Mr Chaudry, millionaire owner of Stoke-on-Trent attraction Waterworld, was arrested in April on suspicion of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office.
Mr Meredith said he did not think his arrest had been justified and that the affair had a detrimental effect on civic life and the city.
"The initial fact-finding mission did clear me of any wrong doing and I think it should have been left at that.
"I don't think the council should waste any more time on the matter and it needs to move forward with improving services to the city," he said.
'Episode over''Episode over'
Mr Ibbs stood down as leader of the Conservative and Independent Alliance group following his arrest.Mr Ibbs stood down as leader of the Conservative and Independent Alliance group following his arrest.
He said he had played no part in the decision to close the Splash Pool and added it had been a difficult three months since his arrest.He said he had played no part in the decision to close the Splash Pool and added it had been a difficult three months since his arrest.
"I feel pleased the whole episode is over," he said."I feel pleased the whole episode is over," he said.
"There are questions I need to ask but I want to reflect on what I want to find out first," he added."There are questions I need to ask but I want to reflect on what I want to find out first," he added.
Mr Chaudry said his arrest had been a "travesty of justice".Mr Chaudry said his arrest had been a "travesty of justice".
"I am planning to meet my legal team within the next few days to review my position in regard to a number of factors," he said."I am planning to meet my legal team within the next few days to review my position in regard to a number of factors," he said.
We are now considering whether any issues surrounding these inquiries need to be referred to the council's standards committee Council spokesman
Staffordshire Police said in a statement the CPS had decided that the evidence was "not sufficient to provide a realistic prospect of convicting any of the three individuals arrested in connection with the inquiry".Staffordshire Police said in a statement the CPS had decided that the evidence was "not sufficient to provide a realistic prospect of convicting any of the three individuals arrested in connection with the inquiry".
The men are no longer required to answer police bail.The men are no longer required to answer police bail.
'Thorough investigation'
Stoke-on-Trent City Council said it had referred the matter to police following an internal investigation.Stoke-on-Trent City Council said it had referred the matter to police following an internal investigation.
A spokesman said: "We are now considering whether any issues surrounding these inquiries need to be referred to the council's standards committee.A spokesman said: "We are now considering whether any issues surrounding these inquiries need to be referred to the council's standards committee.
"As a result we cannot comment further on the detail of these inquiries.""As a result we cannot comment further on the detail of these inquiries."
In a statement, the CPS said the decision not to continue proceedings followed "a thorough investigation by Staffordshire Police who passed a file of evidence to the CPS earlier this year".In a statement, the CPS said the decision not to continue proceedings followed "a thorough investigation by Staffordshire Police who passed a file of evidence to the CPS earlier this year".
"In reaching this decision the CPS considered offences of corruption against Mr Ibbs and Mr Choudry, misconduct in public office against Mr Meredith, and aiding and abetting misconduct in public office against Mr Choudry," the statement said."In reaching this decision the CPS considered offences of corruption against Mr Ibbs and Mr Choudry, misconduct in public office against Mr Meredith, and aiding and abetting misconduct in public office against Mr Choudry," the statement said.