A total of 29 people appeared in court today as part of a large investigation into corruption and bribery at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court in 2011.

Karandeep Sanghera, 25, a trainee barrister of Eric Road, Chadwell Heath, court clerk Parminder Ghatora, 31, from Coventry, and Shinthuga Ratnaselvam, 26, of Westernville Gardens in Ilford, have been charged with misconduct in a public office.

A total of 26 others have been charged with perverting the course of justice in connection with Operation Theemin, an investigation into conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, bribery and perverting the course of justice.

Munir Patel, 24, of Green Lane, Dagenham, was jailed for three years in 2011 for making illegal changes to the computer system at Redbridge Magistrates' Court.

Patel also advised people on how to avoid being summoned to court while working as an administrator.

In 2011, a court heard £53,814 in cash was deposited in Patel’s bank account while another £42,383 payment was transferred into the same account without explanation.

Among those charged with perverting the course of justice are Zain Akthar, 20, a vehicle service worker of The Drive in Ilford, Kashif Hussain, 28, of Rutland Road, Ilford, Amna Lone, 23, of Benton Road in Ilford, and Umaer Zaffer, 27, of Northbrook Road, Ilford, Faisal Hussain, 26, an electrical engineer from Gyllyngdune Gardens in Ilford, and unemployed Hasham Syed, 25, of Levett Gardens in Ilford.

All appeared today at Southwark Crown Court to confirm their names and have been bailed until the next hearing on May 16.

  • Faisal Hussain, of Gyllyngdune Gardens in Ilford, was acquitted of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice at Southwark Crown Court on August 1, 2014.