The Alternative Press

PATERSON, NJ – Councilman Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman said in court testimony Monday afternoon that his daughter continued to attend public schools in Totowa this past year even after the family returned to live in Paterson in July 2011.

Akhtaruzzaman said he thought it was important for his daughter to finish fourth grade at the Totowa school.

Akhtaruzzaman indicated he originally thought it was okay for his daughter to attend Totowa schools because the family owned a house in the borough, but said he later learned that she and her family had to live in Totowa to go to schools there.

Akhtaruzzaman testified that he was “ready to pay the fine’’ to the Totowa school district.

That testimony arose during the first day of trial in Aslon Goow’s lawsuit alleging that Akhtaruzzaman failed to meet residency requirements for running in May 8 city council election.

Also, during the afternoon testimony, Goow’s lawyer, Michael DeMarco, raised questions that highlighted the discrepancy between Akhtaruzzaman’s campaign website, which said the candidate had returned to Paterson in 2003, and Akhtaruzzaman’s testimony that he returned to Paterson in January 2011.

Moreover, Akhtaruzzaman acknowledged that he still receives mail at Totowa home he owns and has not filed a change of address form with the US Post Office.

DeMarco concluded his questioning of Akhtaruzzaman at about 2:50 pm. The councilman’s attorney, was scheduled to begin his line of questioning later in the afternoon.

PatersonPress.com will provide another update later in the day.