A LEADING councillor’s son has been arrested by police in an ongoing fraud probe.

Oldbury Councillor Mahboob Hussain's son Azeem Hafeez was arrested after the Regional Fraud Team mounted raids on two addresses in the borough.

One of the properties was the home of former deputy leader of Sandwell Council Cllr Hussain.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "A 30-year-old man was arrested on April 1 in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation.

"Officers from the Regional Fraud Team arrested the man from an address in the Oldbury area on suspicion of fraud."

He added: "He was later bailed pending further inquiries."

Specialist officers are currently analysing several documents seized during the operation.

Police have been carrying out an investigation into allegations of corruption at Sandwell Council after they received claims last September of irregularities in the sale of former council properties In October, Cllr Hussain stood down as chairman of the council's asset management and land disposal committee..

Last month both Cllr Hussain and Cllr Ian Jones, cabinet member for regeneration, resigned from the cabinet after a “fresh allegation” the council's normal procedures were not followed over the sale of old public toilets.

The toilets sales in question were in Albert Street, Oldbury, Jervoise Lane in Stone Cross and The Shambles in Wednesbury.

Sandwell Council also launched an internal inquiry in October concerning the fraudulent land sale allegations but council chiefs this week refused to say when it is due to be completed.

The council’s independent external auditor, KPMG is investigating and the relevant files have all been secured.

Melanie Dudley, assistant chief executive at Sandwell Council, said: "The internal investigation is continuing and we are helping the police with their ongoing investigations.”