'No intention' of fraud at Covid firm, court told

There was "no intention" to commit fraud at a coronavirus testing laboratory accused of trading dishonestly, a court has been told.

Five people are on trial at Bradford Crown Court charged with fraudulent trading and causing a public nuisance over their role in RT Diagnostics during the pandemic.

The Halifax-based company operated briefly in 2021 but was beset by difficulties before closing amid allegations tests were being dumped, with customers sent false negative results.

Faisal Shoukat, 38, former justice minister Shahid Malik, 58, Paul Moore, 56, Lynn Connell, 64, and Dr Alexander Zarneh, 70, deny all of the charges against them.

On Thursday the trial heard closing speeches from barristers representing Dewsbury East councillor Mr Moore and Mrs Connell, who the prosecution allege held senior positions within the company.

Leon Kazakos KC, representing Mr Moore, of of Plober Street in Burnley, said his client had "limited" responsibilities at RT Diagnostics.

Mr Kazakos pointed to evidence from Mr Moore's co-defendant, Faisal Shoukat, who said he had worked under instruction, "doing what he was asked when he was asked".

In response to a prosecution claim that Mr Moore "told significant lies in order to try and protect RT Diagnostics", Mr Kazakos said: "Paul Moore was not and has not been dishonest."

He highlighted a reference from an ex-colleague of Mr Moore's at the Chickenley Community Centre in Dewsbury, who had described him as "very honest".

Mr Kazakos said complaints the company had about Royal Mail and Recova-19, which were handled by Mr Moore, had been genuine and substantiated, rather than attempts to blame others.

Mr Moore had also suggested to Mr Shoukat that RT Diagnostics should stop taking orders when its difficulties began to mount, his barrister told the court.

The trial previously heard how Mr Moore later set up another firm, Avery Labs, which prosecutors allege was formed after "things went wrong" for RT Diagnostics and intended to pick up where its predecessor left off.

Mr Kazakos pointed out that the firm never actually traded, while Abdul Iqbal KC, who represents Mr Shoukat, of Saville Park in Halifax, said its purpose was different, focusing on "a premium home collection service and other products post-Covid".

Mr Iqbal said the application to set up the business "must have taken place some time before" RT Diagnostics was removed from a government list of test kit providers against a backdrop of growing complaints from customers.

According to Mr Iqbal, "a great deal of expense was gone to" in order to set up RT Diagnostics, including paying "an army" of consultants, which he said "indicate no intention" to commit fraud.

Siobhan Grey KC, who represents Mrs Connell, insisted her client was Mr Shoukat's personal assistant at RT Diagnostics, rather than one of "the big guns".

The prosecution had claimed Mrs Connell, of Wagon Farm in Ripponden, was a member of the company's senior management team with managerial responsibilities.

But Ms Grey said Mrs Connell was paid £12.50 an hour and added: "[She was] doing tasks that she was asked to do, not somebody with managerial status."

She said the evidence showed the defendant, who has one previous conviction for criminal damage in 2015, was "careful, methodical, particular - a stickler for the rules".

"If something comes to her attention that isn't right, then she will say so."

In response to another prosecution claim that Mrs Connell dealt with "disgruntled" customers, Ms Grey said her client spoke to a customer on one occasion after the member of staff who usually dealt with complaints had gone home.

On that occasion, Mr Shoukat stood next to her and told her what to say.

The trial continues.

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