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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| No charges in council fraud probe | No charges in council fraud probe |
| (about 5 hours 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 | |
| Mr Ibbs was arrested on suspicion of corruption in public office in February followed by Mr Meredith on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and complicity in corruption while in public office a month later. | Mr Ibbs was arrested on suspicion of corruption in public office in February followed by Mr Meredith on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and complicity in corruption while in public office a month later. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the three men in relation to allegations centred on the proposed closure of the council-run splash pool. | |
| "This decision 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." |