Paul Jarvis KC represented Dr Alexander Zarneh, who was charged with fraudulent trading and public nuisance arising out of his involvement in a company called RT Diagnostics Ltd that provided COVID testing services to the public during the pandemic.
Dr Zarneh was a private consultant who had previously worked in the NHS for 40 years. The trial commenced on 20 October 2025.
On 16 April 2026, the jury was discharged following an allegation of jury tampering. The trial judge – HHJ Smith – decided to continue with a judge-alone trial, a decision that was later endorsed by the Court of Appeal.
HHJ Smith returned his verdicts on the five defendants on 8 October 2026, nearly 12 months after the trial had started.
Dr Zarneh was acquitted of both offences. Paul was sole counsel for Dr Zarneh, instructed by Amrik Bilkhu of Rahman Ravelli Solicitors.
Ex-councillor guilty of running sham Covid-19 testing lab – BBC News
