Ex Leader of Thanet District Council guilty of misconduct in a public office

01/03/2013

The Ex Leader of Thanet District Council has today (1st March) been found guilty of misconduct in a public office.

 The jury at Maidstone Crown Court found Maurice Ezekiel guilty of the four charges committed between September 2009 and February 2012, during which time he was a Councillor and for a significant period Leader of Thanet District Council.

His co-defendant and close friend Phillip Emanuel was found guilty of aiding/abetting misconduct.

It was the prosecution's case Maurice Ezekiel used privileged council information during his time as leader to buy property at 12b King Street and subsequently 12a King Street Margate with the assistance of longstanding friend Mr Emanuel.

The owners of 12a purchased the property several years previously and obtained planning permission to develop it, but due to personal circumstances were unable to do so. They were offered first refusal to buy 12b King Street with a view to joining the properties.

Speaking after the conviction Nigel Pilkington, Head of the South East Complex Casework Unit said:

"Maurice Ezekiel abused his position as an elected public official by using information not available to the general public to purchase two adjoining properties in a regeneration area of Margate. It was clear from the evidence he did this for his own advantage.

As an elected Councillor he well knew he was bound by a code of conduct and despite of this he didnt notify council officers of his involvement. This constitutes the clearest breach of the public's and his colleagues trust.

"Maurice Ezekiel provided the purchase funds, but the property sales were completed through Phillip Emanuel who as a willing party was involved in the whole process. This enabled him to deflect attention away from Ezekiel and hide the true nature of his interest and activity from the Council and the public."

When a prospective buyer contacted her MP and local councillors following the failure of her various offers to purchase 12b King Street it set in motion both a series of events and the subsequent investigation.

12b King Street was owned by the Council and had been renovated and marketed as a residential property to be resold. Maurice Ezekiel had access to information which outlined the price the council wanted to reach and offers made on the property, but already rejected.

Having shown no previous interest in the property Phillip Emanuel made an offer. On the same day the prospective buyer offered a higher figure. Two days later Emanuel increased the offer, which was accepted.

Throughout the property sale Maurice Ezekiels home address was given as a contact address for Phillip Emmanuel who lives abroad. A declaration of trust supplied by their Solicitor refers to Philip Emanuel as trustee and Maurice Ezekiel as the buyer of 12b King Street. By signing this document Ezekiel would have to declare his interest to the council, but failed to do so.

The neighbouring property 12a King Street, was a privately owned derelict shop.

Through subsequent enquiries made of council staff Maurice Ezekiel requested enforcement proceedings be taken on 12a King Street. The owners of the property were contacted and given one month to start renovations before enforcement proceedings commenced.

For the owners of 12a King Street the renovation of the property was too high a financial commitment and they agreed to sell to the owners of 12b who they thought to be Phillip Emanuel.

The cheques for the deposit and completion on the property were from Maurice Ezekiel. As with the previous property a deed of trust had been signed setting out the Ezekiels as the buyers and Emanuel as trustee.

Throughout the sale of 12a Ezekiels interest in 12b and 12a King Street was hidden.