LONDON: A Pakistani-origin councillor in the UK despatched a photo of a topless woman to a group of girls all over a gathering, prompting the opposition Labour party to suspend him for what he referred to as an "honest mistake", media reports said on Thursday.
Sheffield City councillor Mohammad Maroof posted the picture on a WhatsApp staff named 'Mums United', BBC reported.
As the gang's founder Sahira Irshad introduced a petition on knife crime, he despatched the picture to the gang, it said.
Maroof, who said that he used to be "very embarrassed" and has apologised for what he described used to be an "honest mistake", has been suspended by way of the Labour council pending an investigation, the record said.
He said he used to be looking to attach a video of Irshad talking at the assembly and instead by chance attached the unsolicited image, which he received earlier in the day, in keeping with the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
He claimed that he asked for it to be deleted "within seconds" of sending it.
"This is my private phone and I receive so many things that my WhatsApp has been set up to automatically save everything in my phone's photo file."
"Somebody sent me this photo, it may have come in the morning, and it went into my phone's file," Maroof said.
He represents Nether Edge and Sharrow Ward which incorporates the districts of Brincliffe, Carter Knowle, Nether Edge, Sharrow Vale, and maximum of Banner Cross, and is one of the 28 electoral wards in the City of Sheffield, England.
"I tried to send the group a video and by mistake I pressed the wrong photo. As soon as I realised, I asked for it to be deleted as I couldn't delete it myself. It was only there for a second," Maroof said in his defence.
He said that he has despatched an apology to the gang chat.
"I sincerely apologise. I had no intention to do such a thing and to cause such disruption. I have a lot of respect for the group," he said.
A member of the gang, on situation of anonymity, said it used to be "absolutely disgraceful".
Council leader Julie Dore said it used to be "a very serious matter" and his suspension used to be speedy "until we have ascertained the details".
Maroof, who used to be educated in Pakistan and the UK, said the WhatsApp staff used to be set up to empower ladies, the record added.
Sheffield City councillor Mohammad Maroof posted the picture on a WhatsApp staff named 'Mums United', BBC reported.
As the gang's founder Sahira Irshad introduced a petition on knife crime, he despatched the picture to the gang, it said.
Maroof, who said that he used to be "very embarrassed" and has apologised for what he described used to be an "honest mistake", has been suspended by way of the Labour council pending an investigation, the record said.
He said he used to be looking to attach a video of Irshad talking at the assembly and instead by chance attached the unsolicited image, which he received earlier in the day, in keeping with the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
He claimed that he asked for it to be deleted "within seconds" of sending it.
"This is my private phone and I receive so many things that my WhatsApp has been set up to automatically save everything in my phone's photo file."
"Somebody sent me this photo, it may have come in the morning, and it went into my phone's file," Maroof said.
He represents Nether Edge and Sharrow Ward which incorporates the districts of Brincliffe, Carter Knowle, Nether Edge, Sharrow Vale, and maximum of Banner Cross, and is one of the 28 electoral wards in the City of Sheffield, England.
"I tried to send the group a video and by mistake I pressed the wrong photo. As soon as I realised, I asked for it to be deleted as I couldn't delete it myself. It was only there for a second," Maroof said in his defence.
He said that he has despatched an apology to the gang chat.
"I sincerely apologise. I had no intention to do such a thing and to cause such disruption. I have a lot of respect for the group," he said.
A member of the gang, on situation of anonymity, said it used to be "absolutely disgraceful".
Council leader Julie Dore said it used to be "a very serious matter" and his suspension used to be speedy "until we have ascertained the details".
Maroof, who used to be educated in Pakistan and the UK, said the WhatsApp staff used to be set up to empower ladies, the record added.
UK councillor sends topless woman's photo during meeting
![UK councillor sends topless woman's photo during meeting]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
December 06, 2018
Rating:
