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Kidnap claim ‘part of smear campaign against me’

Ruhubia Akbor
18/ 4/2008

AN OLDHAM man fears he is the target of a smear campaign.

Police raided Mohammed Masud's home on Clarksfield Road last week looking for a suspected kidnap victim following an anonymous tip-off.

Three days earlier his car had been vandalised, and was later searched by police, who had received a tip-off that there were drugs hidden inside.

Mr Masud said: "I don’t know why I’m being targeted. I think it’s a campaign to intimidate me.

"I think it’s because I’m standing for election."

Mr Masud was woken up at 2am last Tuesday by police who searched his house for the alleged missing person.

His election committee room on nearby Greengate Street was also searched. Nothing was found at either property.

The previous weekend Mr Masud’s Honda Civic was broken into. He says he has also been a victim of persistent malicious phonecalls.

Mr Masud said: "I’m really disappointed. I was a councillor for seven years and it seems that there are people who are trying to discredit me."

A police spokesman said: "On Tuesday, April 8, police received reports of a suspected kidnap at around 10.35pm.

"A house on Clarksfield Road, Oldham, and another house on Greengate Street, Oldham, were searched with the owner’s consent.

"Nothing was found at either address and the reports were deemed malicious."