Halifax scientist 'innocent' over Covid fraud, court told
Addressing the court, Mr Jarvis said Dr Zarneh, 70, was an "innocent man", adding: "There is no evidence that's capable of proving his guilt."All five defendants are accused of playing significant roles at RT Diagnostics, which prosecutors allege "purported to be a testing laboratory" when in reality tests were "dumped in a room" with customers sent fake negative results for the deadly virus, thereby endangering people's health.Dr Zarneh, a scientist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, was said to have been the company's clinical director, according to documentation shown to the court.Prosecutors allege he was "instrumental" in making applications for accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and told "significant lies" to the organisation about his role in the operation.It is claimed that as a result of his deception RT Diagnostics was added to the government's list of test providers.Prosecutors have said that between May and July 2021 RT Diagnostics reported 123,104 tests, but only 45 of these were positive results, with 123,058 showing as negative and one indeterminate.The firm is said to have generated £6.67m in income over 31 days between 16 May and 16 June 2021.
