An alleged election fraudster did nothing while his allies broke election rules, but accusations he was involved in faking ballot slips are “completely untrue”, a court has heard.

Israr Rashid, 41, of Hobart Close, High Wycombe, took to the witness stand to claim that the allegations against him were false at Amersham Law Courts on Monday.

On trial accused of cheating after he won the Totteridge and Bowerdean council by-election on February 7, 2019, Rashid admitted he was aware his allies had broken the council’s election rules.

However, the court heard from Rashid’s defence barrister Anthony Abel that this breach in itself did not make his client guilty of conspiracy to defraud – a charge that he has pleaded not guilty to.

READ MORE: Alleged Wycombe fraudster 'cheated' election in 'dishonest and organised way'

Under cross-examination from prosecutor Guy Ladenburg, Rashid told the court that he was aware his allies were collecting completed postal ballots from voters and posting them, but that he was not doing it himself.

The court heard how posting someone else’s completed ballot is not illegal, but does violate the council’s election code of conduct.

Mr Ladenburg said: “Members of your team were picking up numerous postal votes and submitting them to the post box.

“If they’re completed ballots that might be a breach of the code. Is that what you were involved in?”

In response, Rashid said: “I was not involved in it but people were picking up the votes and posting them.

When asked what he was doing while his allies did this, Rashid answered: “I was out canvassing every door.”

When Mr Ladenburg asked if Rashid decided to do anything about this unethical behaviour, he said he did not.

READ MORE: 'Election fraudster' allies boasted about 'dodgy votes' in Whatsapp groups

The defendant’s barrister, Mr Abel, argued that despite potentially breaking the code of conduct, the behaviour of Rashid’s allies did not make him guilty of conspiracy to defraud.

Mr Abel said: “What this is really about is not that. Although that’s not in line with the code, that’s not what you are charged with.

“What you are charged with is that you and members of your team were collecting ballots, postal ballots, from people and filled them in without any heed to whatever they wanted to vote. What do you say to that?”

In reply, Rashid said: “It’s completely untrue”

The trial continues.