Ex-Dewsbury MP 'would not put reputation on the line' with fraudulent Covid firm - trial
Shahid Malik is one of five people charged with criminal offences over RT Diagnostics, which prosecutors say was set up to take advantage of the test and trace system in March 2021.
A former Labour minister on trial over a "shoddy and inadequate" Covid-19 testing firm would not put his reputation on the line by setting up a fraudulent business, his defence barrister told a jury.
Shahid Malik is one of five people charged with criminal offences 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, 58, 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.
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.
On Tuesday, Malik's barrister, Jonathan Laidlaw KC, said that since leaving Parliament, he had spent much of his time doing unpaid work, particularly in the developing world, and asked why "an individual approaching 60" with no previous convictions would become involved in a fraudulent business.
"Why would he do that? With his reputation and everything he has achieved, why would he put that on the line?" Mr Laidlaw said.
He told the court Malik's role in the business had been as "a facilitator - putting the money up and making introductions".
Mr Laidlaw said: "Through his work as a parliamentarian and overseas, he has built up a considerable book of contacts.
"It was that, facilitating, putting people together - Turkish scientists with the pharmacy of Faisal Shoukat - that was his part.
"He wasn't involved in anything other than facilitation, bringing people together."
He went on to say: "Shahid Malik, for a brief period, was a non-executive director
"He did not have an operational role, he took no positive steps in the running of the business."
Mr Laidlaw told the court that for much of the time the business was operating, Malik was out of the country and that there was no evidence he was told about any of its issues while he was abroad.
"There is not a single document that shows that Shahid Malik was ever told of any problems," Mr Laidlaw said.
He told jurors that Malik played no part in trying to get the firm accredited with the UK authorities or in employing any of its staff.
Mr Laidlaw said the fact that Malik had made money from RT Diagnostics "can't possibly be the basis for a guilty verdict".
The defendants all deny the charges and the trial continues.