Jawaid Ishaq: Ex-mayor of North Lincolnshire in court
A councillor and former mayor of North Lincolnshire has appeared in court to deny 16 charges, including fraud and perverting the course of justice.
Jawaid Ishaq, 72, of Normanby Road, Scunthorpe, is also accused of forgery, theft, obtaining a money transfer by deception and making and possessing articles for use in fraud.
He pleaded not guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to the charges.
He was released on bail and is due to stand trial next January.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1997 and 2012.
Mr Ishaq, councillor for Scunthorpe's Crosby and Park ward, was sworn in as the Mayor of North Lincolnshire in 2008, becoming the first Muslim mayor in the Humber region.