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Mayor taken to hospital following arrest
THE Mayor of Camden has been rushed to hospital suffering from chest pains - days after being arrested on suspicion of benefit fraud.
Councillor Omar Faruque Ansari, who has previously had a heart bypass operation, was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead on Saturday
Five days earlier, on January 25, police officers walked into the Mayor's Parlour at Camden Town Hall and arrested the Liberal Democrat councillor.
Councillor Janet Grauberg, deputy leader of Camden's Lib-Dems, said: "I visited Faruque on Sunday afternoon in the Royal Free Hospital. He told me that on Saturday he had been feeling unwell and suffering chest pains. He said that his doctor had visited him at home and arranged for an ambulance to take him to the Royal Free, where he said he'd been undergoing various tests.
"I gave him a 'get well' card on behalf of the group and we chatted for 10 minutes or so. He obviously appreciated the visit and asked me to send his best wishes to everyone. Clearly, this has been a very stressful week for him. We all wish him a very speedy recovery."
Councillor Ansari was arrested after an investigation by the Department for Work and Pensions into disability benefit claims. The former Bangladeshi freedom fighter is protesting his innocence.
Councillor Ansari has also retracted the resignation as Mayor he tendered last week, telling the Gazette: "I haven't resigned".
Camden Council has suspended Councillor Ansari from carrying out mayoral engagements.
Councillor Ansari cannot use the Mayor's Parlour, the mayoral car, or the chains of office - and will not get to meet Princess Anne or the Duke of Gloucester, who are both due to visit Camden. The duties will be taken over by Deputy Mayor Lulu Mitchell.
A Camden Council spokesman said: "Experience over the last few days has indicated that the current situation is detrimentally impacting upon the functioning of the mayoralty.
"Therefore, pending any significant change in the current position, Councillor Ansari will not be carrying out any mayoral engagements."
Councillor Ansari has been released on police bail until March and has not been charged with any offence.
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