Deposed Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman was found guilty of several charges of corruption and election-rigging yesterday less than a year after winning a second term.

The directly elected mayor’s landslide victory in May 2014 was contested by four residents, including local council candidate Andy Erlam.

They accused Mr Rahman of election fraud, corruption, tampering with ballot papers, making false statements about the opposition and exercising undue influence on voters.

Mr Rahman, who was not present at the hearing, was found “personally” guilty and “guilty by his agents” on all counts except one of violently intimidating voters to support his party, Tower Hamlets First.

At the High Court, Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey, who presided over the case, said: “Mr Rahman has made a successful career by ignoring or flouting the law.”

He added: “The evidence laid before this court ... has disclosed an alarming state of affairs in Tower Hamlets.

“[This] is the result of the ruthless ambition of one man.”

Mr Rahman’s team responded to the verdict in a statement: “Today’s judgment has come as a shock — the Mayor strongly denies any wrongdoing and had full confidence in the justice system, and so this result has been surprising to say the least.”

Mr Rahman’s appointment was immediately considered void and new mayoral elections are to take place.

Alongside his election agent and Stepney Green councillor, Alibor Choudhury, Mr Rahman was banned from standing and faces a disputed costs bill of between £250,000 and £1 million.

Speaking on behalf of the four petitioners, Mr Erlam labelled the day’s events “a fantastic result for democracy.”
But while cheers were heard outside the court room as the verdict was read, many were “disappointed” with the court’s decision.

Tower Hamlets resident Sean Rillo Raczka said: “This disgraceful verdict shows just how out of touch our Establishment are, casting aside any notion of a democratic election.”

He praised the mayor for introducing free homecare, university grants and an EMA replacement and standing against union blacklists.