AN investigation into the corruption scandal involving Oldbury councillor Mahboob Hussain's conduct within Sandwell Council has been delayed once again.

Serious allegations have been made about Cllr Hussain, the former deputy leader, regarding land sales and parking tickets.

He was due to face the authority's standards committee this week to answer a number of alleged code of conduct breaches, but the hearing has been postponed.

It is now expected to take place at some point after October 9.

Jan Britton, chief executive of Sandwell Council, said the delay is due to ‘personal reasons’ relating to the councillor which cannot be disclosed.

Mr Britton said: “The council originally proposed a standards hearing in the week commencing September 11.

“This did not proceed because Councillor Hussain has been unavailable to attend a hearing for personal reasons which the council cannot disclose.

“The standards committee is now looking at hearing this matter at a date after 9 October.”

It’s alleged that Cllr Hussain (pictured below) abused his position on the council to secure the sale of land to a close associate for just £35,000 when he knew it had been valued at £130,000, and that he wrongly secured the cancellation of parking tickets and reduction of parking fines issued to members of his family.

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The allegations – which were the subject of last year’s Wragge report – have been denied by Cllr Hussain, who refutes any wrongdoing.

He was initially due to appear before the committee in August 2016 and then again in March 2017, but both hearings were cancelled following High Court legal challenges.

But in June, Mr Justice Green said the allegations against Cllr Hussain should now be investigated properly by the council.