Mark Pack

The Express & Star reports:

A Tory election candidate has been arrested on suspicion of postal vote fraud in the first West Midlands Police operation of its kind linked to the 2010 polls.

Gulfam Wali was held by detectives probing claims that postal votes in the Walsall ward where he stood for election were inappropriately used.

The 32-year-old, of Neale Street, Birchills, Walsall, who failed to get elected in Pleck ward, was arrested by detectives from West Midlands Police’s specialist economic crime team.

He was held on suspicion of personation, which is an allegation that votes have been cast in other people’s names.

You can read the full story here.

UPDATE: In April 2011, Gulfam Wali was cleared, as the local newspaper reports:

A former Tory election candidate has been cleared of any wrongdoing after he was arrested on suspicion of postal vote fraud.

Gulfam Wali, aged 33, who was never charged with any offence, said he was relieved after West Midlands Police told him the matter had been dropped. He has vowed to stand again in 2012.