Former Dewsbury MP on trial over Covid-19 testing firm will not give evidence, jury told
Shahid Malik is one of five people on trial over RT Diagnostics, which prosecutors say was set up to take advantage of the test and trace system
A former Labour minister accused of setting up a fraudulent Covid-19 testing firm will not give evidence in his defence, a jury has been told.
Shahid Malik is one of five people on trial over RT Diagnostics, which prosecutors say was a "cash cow" set up to take advantage of the Government's expanding test and trace system in March 2021.
Malik, 57, who became the MP for Dewsbury in 2005 and was a justice minister and communities minister before losing his seat in 2010, is accused of fraudulent trading, causing a public nuisance and money laundering.
Prosecutors say he was the "driving force" behind setting up the company with pharmacist and former Labour councillor Faisal Shoukat, 37, who is charged with the same three offences.
Lynn Connell, 64; Paul Moore, 56; and Alexander Zarneh, 70, are accused of fraudulent trading and causing a public nuisance.
On Thursday, Malik's defence barrister, Angus MacDonald, told Bradford Crown Court he would not be called to give evidence.
Judge Christopher Smith asked Mr MacDonald if he had advised the defendant that if he chose not to give evidence, the jury "may draw such inferences as appear proper".
Mr MacDonald said he had, and read five statements from character witnesses for Malik, including one from former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, who said Malik had "played an important role in challenging extremism and promoting community cohesion" after the London bombings in 2005.
He said Malik had been given "the highest levels of vetting" during his time as a minister, adding: "I can say without hesitation he is a person of the highest integrity."
Another character witness statement was from South African businessman Haroon Kalla, who praised Malik's work for developing countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, helping to address the "chronic shortage" of testing kits.
Mr Kalla said Malik was involved in a "simple and brilliant" initiative to move manufacturing capacity into a number of hubs across the developing world "ensuring no dependence on China in the future, or burden on the west".
The witness said Malik was "respected globally among all those who encounter him".
A statement from Kevin Partington, former rector of Dewsbury Minster, said Malik's departure as the town's MP was "a detriment to the life and times of Dewsbury".
Mr Partington said Malik had faced "many challenges" as an MP, including the 2005 London bombings, when the attackers were found to have links to the area.
Ian Murray, who owns several pubs in Dewsbury town centre, said Malik was "widely regarded as one of the hardest working MPs the town has ever had" and that "many of us hoped he would come back to Parliament in 2024".
Prosecutors allege RT Diagnostics, which made £6.67 million in three weeks, was set up in "shoddy and inadequate premises" in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and gave out false negative results to customers.
The defendants all deny the charges and the trial continues.