TWO men and a property company face charges of fraud and corruption in relation to the work of a council housing department.

The prosecutions follow an investigation into allegations of the improper awarding of Brighton and Hove City Council contracts worth more than £18 million to KEM Property Services Ltd.

Jugal Sharma, of Holland Road, Hove, is charged with making a fraudulent declaration to the council that he had no connection with any company supplying services to them.

The 61-year-old is also charged with six offences of corruptly accepting moneys as an inducement or reward for showing favour to that company in relation to the council's affairs.

Ashley Parker, of Essex, is charged with six offences of corruptly paying Sharma as an inducement or reward for his showing favour to the company in relation to the council's affairs.

The two men and KEM Property Services Ltd, of Queens Road, Brighton, have been served with summonses to appear at Brighton Magistrates Court on January 20.

The contracts were awarded between 2008 and 2013.

The building development was providing the homeless with temporary accommodation.

The police investigation followed an initial investigation by the council's own internal audit team.

Five other people interviewed under caution during the police investigation do not face any further action.