Three immigration judges and six lawyers appear in court over plot to 'scam legal aid system out of £12.6million'

Three judges and six other lawyers arrested over an alleged plot to scam £12.6million from the legal aid system have appeared in court.

Part-time immigration judges Kareena Maciel and Rasib Ghaffar along with part-time civil judge Razi Shah are accused of making claims in excess of £12.6m.

The others charged are legal clerk Gazi Khan, barrister Shahid Rashid and solicitors Joseph Ameyaw-Kyeremeh, Azhar Khan, Lloyd Moody and Samira Bashir.

During today's court hearing, Gazi Khan stood up and claimed the case was a 'racist witch hunt'.

Maciel, 46, and Ghaffar, 48, both of South Woodford, Shah, of Windsor, Berkshire, and Ameyaw-Kyeremeh, 67, of Croydon, all deny one count of conspiracy to commit an offence of fraud by false representation.

Gazi Khan, 49, of Isleworth, west London, Rashid, 57,  of Langley, Berkshire, denies three counts of the same charge.

Azhar Khan, 46, of Pinner, Middlesex, denies one count of fraud by false representation and one count of conspiracy to commit an offence of fraud by false representation.

Moody, 48, of Surbiton, Surrey, denies two counts of fraud by false representation. Bashir, 46, of Slough, faces one count of fraud by false representation.

All nine were bailed and will appear at Southwark Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 14 August.

MailOnline