Councillor denies contacting rape victim's father

An east London councillor has denied contacting the father of a rape complainant and telling him to get his daughter to drop the charges, a court heard.

Abdul Malik, 50, who represents Blackwall and Cubitt Town ward on Tower Hamlets Council, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday charged with perverting the course of justice and pleaded not guilty.

It is alleged the incident happened on 23 January.

The case involves Samir Abdul, 18, of Warrior Square, Manor Park, who has been charged with two counts of rape and harassment without violence against a woman on 8 January.

Mr Malik, of Mercury Walk, Tower Hamlets, appeared in court alongside Abdul Roqib and Rahela Begum.

Mr Roqib, 45, of Warrior Square, Manor Park, is charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice.

He admitted one of the charges that on 22 January he contacted Mr Malik to request his involvement in halting criminal proceedings against his son.

It is also alleged he contacted the complainant of the rape case to ask her to drop the charges against his son on January 10, to which he did not enter a plea.

Mr Begum, 41, of Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice by calling the complainant in the rape investigation on 10 January and asking her to drop the charges.

Samir Abdul did not appear in court on Friday.

The next hearing will be at the same court on 28 March.

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