A newly elected east London councillor has been charged with sexual assault.
Syed Hussain Ahmed of Newham Council was arrested on March 4 in relation to an alleged incident in the City of London in October last year.
Ahmed, who represents Beckton ward, was charged on May 15 and appeared in a magistrates’ court on June 19.
On Friday, he appeared at Inner London Crown Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
He has been granted conditional bail.
He will appear at the same court on December 13 2027.
The Labour councillor was elected to Newham Council for the first time in the local elections on May 7.
It is understood that he has been suspended by the Labour party and he has sat as an independent councillor since Wednesday.
Ahmed will host no surgeries “until further notice”, according to the council website.
