by Paul Francis

A 42-year-old man has been charged with fraud as part of investigations by Kent County Council into irregularities uncovered in one of its directorates.

Ross Knowles, of Larking Drive, Allington, near Maidstone, was charged on May 10 with two counts of fraud by abuse of position, and one count of money laundering.

He is due to appear at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on July 12.

Knowles is described on the council’s website as head of energy procurement at KCC.

Police were called in to investigate by KCC after the authority uncovered evidence of what is described in a report as "a significant irregularity" in one of its services.

According to an auditor’s report published by the council this week, the case is "significant in scale" and raises questions about the governance arrangements of the service.

KCC declined to answer specific queries in relation to the investigation.

In a statement, a spokesman said: "We are unable to comment further as the matter is subject to on-going criminal proceedings."