Lisle Woman Charged With Forging Petitions For Seat On COD Board

Rafath Waheed has been charged with forging petitions to run for a seat on the College of DuPage (COD) Board of Trustees, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney Office. During a hearing on an objection against her petitions, it was discovered that she allegedly submitted two pages of photocopied signatures, rather than authentic signatures.

A warrant for the 61-year-old Lisle woman was issued on Tuesday. Waheed turned herself in on Wednesday night, and she was released after posting her $1,000 bail.

“The bedrock of our entire system of government is free and fair elections,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. “It is alleged that Mrs. Waheed, in an effort to win a seat on the COD Board of Trustees, attempted to circumvent one of the basic requirements for candidacy – filing petitions with the correct number of authentic signatures.”

Waheed was charged with forgery, issuing a forged document and perjury. Her next court appearance is on April 12.

According to My Suburban Life, Waheed withdrew from the race in January after objections were raised against her petitions.

A charge is merely an accusation of a crime, not a finding of guilt.

Photograph provided by the DuPage County State's Attorney Office