Former Labour Mayor Found Guilty of Obstructing Justice in Son's Rape Case
Naheed Ejaz, a 61-year-old former Labour mayor of Bracknell in Berkshire, has been convicted of perverting the course of justice after helping her son conceal his mobile phone from police officers investigating his rape of a 15-year-old girl. The court heard that Ejaz refused entry to officers for over ninety seconds, giving her 41-year-old son, Diwan Khan, time to hide the device believed to contain video evidence of the sexual assault.
Urdu Instructions Used to Conceal Evidence
During the incident on September 12, 2024, Ejaz and Khan communicated in Urdu to discuss hiding the phone while police waited outside their Bracknell home. Prosecutor Ed Wylde explained that they avoided using the word "phone" since it is the same in Urdu and English, which might have alerted officers. Instead, Khan referred to it as the "big bell," with Ejaz responding, "keep silent, I know."
The phone, which was never recovered, allegedly contained footage of Khan raping the teenager after she lost consciousness from MDMA he had placed in her vodka drink. The victim woke up in the backseat of his car with no clothes on and no memory of the assault, only to later be shown the video by Khan, who then threatened to share it with her mother if she spoke out.
Violent Threats and Coercion Revealed
Khan, who served as his mother's Consort during her mayoral term from 2023 to 2024, escalated his intimidation by sending the video clip to the teenager and threatening to "slit her throat" if she told anyone. The court heard that he choked and slapped the girl during the assault, which he filmed on his iPhone 14.
Both Ejaz and Khan were found guilty following a six-day trial at Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire. Khan had previously admitted to perverting the course of justice regarding the phone concealment and was separately convicted of rape. Ejaz maintained that her actions were driven by "mother's love," which she said clouded her judgment.
Defence Arguments and Prosecution Counterclaims
Defence barrister Clare Evans argued that Ejaz was merely trying to appease her "agitated and controlling" son while cooperating with police. Evans claimed Ejaz was attempting to locate the phone to end the "circus" at her home, ignoring Khan's orders not to assist officers.
However, Prosecutor Wylde dismissed this, stating that Ejaz's maternal affection "stretched into criminality." He noted that as a public figure, she was concerned about consequences for both herself and her son, who still lived with her despite approaching forty years of age.
Complex Investigation and Sentencing Pending
The investigation revealed that police seized twenty-six SIM cards from the property, and Ejaz had twelve different contact numbers for Khan, none matching his iPhone. Judge Rufus Taylor highlighted these discrepancies during proceedings.
Khan's defence barrister, Nadia Chbat, claimed the victim had lied about her age, stating she was twenty-two and in a relationship with Khan. This assertion was presented during the trial but did not prevent his conviction.
Ejaz, a mother who raised four children and operated a taxi business primarily serving people with special needs, had recently completed her mayoral term when the offence occurred. Khan had worked as a chauffeur in the business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both await sentencing at a later date.
