The former headteacher and two senior members of staff at one of the country’s first free schools have today appeared in court charged with fraud offences.
Sajid Hussain Raza, the founder and former principal of Kings Science Academy in Bradford, was charged last month with nine offences.
It follows a police investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the school, which opened in 2011. It had also been investigated by the Education Funding Agency in 2013.
Mr Raza, 42, of Spring Gardens, Bradford, appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with three offences of fraud by abuse of position, three offences of false accounting, two offences of obtaining a money transfer by deception, and one offence of fraud by false representation.
Prime minister David Cameron visited the school in its first year and said he was “very impressed”.
Former head of department Shabna Hussain, 38, and former director of finance Daud Khan, 43, also appeared at the court today.
Ms Hussain, of Wilmer Road, Bradford, is charged with one offence of fraud by abuse of position and one of acquiring criminal property.
Mr Khan, of Thornhill Place, Bradford, is charged with two offences of fraud by abuse of position and three offences of false accounting.
All three were granted unconditional bail and are next due at Leeds Crown Court on April 24.
The school is now known as Dixons Kings after joining the Dixons Academy chain.
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