The founder of one the country’s first free schools and two of its senior members of staff are set to go on trial for fraud offences.
Sajid Hussain Raza, the founder and former principal of Kings Science Academy in Bradford, appeared at Leeds Crown Court today, charged with nine offences.
Mr Raza, 42, of Spring Gardens, Bradford, appeared alongside former director of finance Daud Khan, 43. Former head of department Shabna Hussain, 38, did not attend.
A trial date has been set for June 2016 and is expected to last six weeks.
Mr Raza is 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.
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.
Prime minister David Cameron visited the school in its first year and said he was “very impressed”.
The school, which opened in 2011, is now known as Dixons Kings after joining the Dixons Academy chain.
The trio will next appear in court on August 14 for a plea and case management hearing.
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