Former Labour Mayor Accused of Obstructing Justice in Son's Rape Case
Winchester Crown Court has heard disturbing allegations against a former Labour mayor who is accused of allowing "mother's love for a son to stretch to criminality" by allegedly helping him hide evidence when police arrived to arrest him on suspicion of raping a 15-year-old girl.
Allegations of Evidence Concealment
Naheed Ejaz, 61, who served as Mayor of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire from 2023 to 2024, is said to have delayed police entry to her home for "some minutes" when officers arrived in the early hours of September 12, 2024, to arrest her son, Diwan Khan, 41.
The court heard that during this delay, Ejaz allegedly spoke to her son in Urdu to "assist" him in hiding his mobile phone, which contained a video of the alleged sexual assault. Prosecutors claim this was a deliberate attempt to prevent police from obtaining crucial evidence.
The Alleged Attack
The prosecution outlined a harrowing sequence of events beginning in June 2024 when the teenage victim allegedly arranged to meet a friend. According to court testimony, Khan offered to take the girls for a drive and subsequently purchased vodka, into which he allegedly poured what he claimed was MDMA powder.
After drinking the spiked vodka, the victim reported "blacking out" and waking up in the backseat of Khan's car with no clothes on. She allegedly could not remember what had happened but was then shown a video that Khan had filmed of himself having sex with her while choking and slapping her.
Threats and Intimidation
The court heard that Khan, who served as his mother's Consort of the Mayor during her term, allegedly threatened to show the video to the victim's mother if she reported the incident. He reportedly told her she "belonged" to him and sent messages using a false name threatening to "come to her house and slit her throat" if she told anyone.
During her police interview, the victim stated she had told Khan she was 15 years old, though he later claimed to police he believed she was 24 after meeting her on dating app Plenty of Fish.
Legal Proceedings
Ejaz and Khan are currently on trial together at Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire. Ejaz denies perverting the course of justice, while Khan denies rape. However, the jury has been informed that Khan has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by hiding the mobile phone from police.
Prosecutor Ed Wylde told the court: "We say that she was aware that this was not the phone the police were looking for, assisting Mr Khan in the concealment of the mobile phone. We say they were speaking in Urdu so that the police wouldn't know what they were talking about."
Broader Implications
The case has raised serious questions about the conduct of elected officials and their responsibilities. Ejaz's term as mayor ended in 2024, with local reports suggesting she resigned as a councillor in September of that year, though the exact timing remains unconfirmed.
Mr Wylde addressed the court regarding the victim's credibility, stating: "She was quite troubled, quite rebellious. She snuck out at night, she drank alcohol, she took drugs. She may have got things a little wrong. We say those factors are exactly why he chose her because he knew she wouldn't be believed."
The trial continues as both defendants face serious allegations that have shocked the Bracknell community and raised concerns about abuse of position and power.
