A councillor who was accused of rape but never brought to trial, is being told to resign from the council.Alexandra Ward Councillor Asaf Ali (37) was arrested last year after police received a report that a 16-year-old girl had been raped by Councillor Ali, her boss, at business premises in King Street, Oldham, in June, on the day she started work.He was bailed while police carried out inquiries but contested the allegations and claimed it was consensual sex.The girl denies giving consent.The married father-of-three was told in January he will not face charges. Last week, Councillor Ali — who is not due for re-election until 2010 —stepped down from the Labour group on Oldham Council, but remains a ward councillor and governor at Glodwick Infant School.Now the girl’s mother, who can’t be named for legal reasons, and senior Liberal Democrat, Councillor Kay Knox, are calling for him to resign from his seat.The woman said: “We put our faith in the justice system and the police have done everything they can, but the Crown Prosecution Service have told me there was not enough chance of a successful prosecution. “I have complained to the Standards Board (which makes sure local councillors stick to their code of conduct), but I was told they could not investigate because he was acting in a private capacity. “Legally, he may not have committed a crime, but morally he had a duty of care to his employees.“This was done within an hour of my daughter starting work which brings his judgement into great question.“He used to be our ward councillor and I thought he was a friend.“As a father of three boys he should have known what was right and wrong. “My daughter was never a confident girl. She was vulnerable. “Now she doesn’t want to go into town or walk outside our house.“He should be removed from the council.” The Oldham Chronicle
Sunday, 23 March 2008
Another Labour ‘untouchable’
A councillor who was accused of rape but never brought to trial, is being told to resign from the council.Alexandra Ward Councillor Asaf Ali (37) was arrested last year after police received a report that a 16-year-old girl had been raped by Councillor Ali, her boss, at business premises in King Street, Oldham, in June, on the day she started work.He was bailed while police carried out inquiries but contested the allegations and claimed it was consensual sex.The girl denies giving consent.The married father-of-three was told in January he will not face charges. Last week, Councillor Ali — who is not due for re-election until 2010 —stepped down from the Labour group on Oldham Council, but remains a ward councillor and governor at Glodwick Infant School.Now the girl’s mother, who can’t be named for legal reasons, and senior Liberal Democrat, Councillor Kay Knox, are calling for him to resign from his seat.The woman said: “We put our faith in the justice system and the police have done everything they can, but the Crown Prosecution Service have told me there was not enough chance of a successful prosecution. “I have complained to the Standards Board (which makes sure local councillors stick to their code of conduct), but I was told they could not investigate because he was acting in a private capacity. “Legally, he may not have committed a crime, but morally he had a duty of care to his employees.“This was done within an hour of my daughter starting work which brings his judgement into great question.“He used to be our ward councillor and I thought he was a friend.“As a father of three boys he should have known what was right and wrong. “My daughter was never a confident girl. She was vulnerable. “Now she doesn’t want to go into town or walk outside our house.“He should be removed from the council.” The Oldham Chronicle
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This poor girl was half his age. What is it with Labour councillors and a total lack of morals. I think Cllr Oldham is a man of intergrity, but on the whole they are a corrupt bunch who seem to lack common decency.
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