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Yard chief could face charges over false arrest claim
Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent26 Nov 2008
LAWYERS are examining bringing possible criminal charges against senior Scotland Yard chief Ali Dizaei, the Standard can reveal.
A file on claims that he fabricated evidence when arresting a man outside a west London restaurant has been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. The man complained about his arrest. The police commander was suspended from his post by the Metropolitan Police Authority over the incident which took place outside the Yas restaurant in Kensington in July.
At the time Mr Dizaei, 46, accused 23-year-old web designer Waad Al-Baghdadi of assaulting him with the mouthpiece of a "hubbly bubbly" or hookah water pipe.
He had been dining at the restaurant in full uniform with his wife when a row broke out and the alleged assault took place.
After arresting him the case went to the CPS but lawyers dismissed the complaint and recommended it be investigated further. Investigators from the Independent Police Complaints Commissioner were called in and examined CCTV camera evidence which is said to contradict Mr Dizaei's version of events.
Today an IPCC spokesman said: "The IPCC has concluded its investigation into a complaint against a senior officer in the Metropolitan Police Service and, as is usual in these circumstances, has passed its file to the Crown Prosecution Service."
The senior police commander could face possible charges for misconduct in a public office or even perverting the course of justice. Lawyers could dismiss the case if there is insufficient evidence to prosecute. Mr Dizaei, who denies the claims, was recently promoted to his £90,000 role at Scotland Yard with responsibility for overseeing 10 west London boroughs. He was in charge of the operation which ended in the fatal shooting of barrister Mark Saunders.
The commander is facing two further inquiries into misconduct allegations.
The IPCC is overseeing an investigation into claims he used his corporate American Express ca rd to buy £5,000 of clothes and perfume while on a trip to the US.
The MPA has also called in the deputy chief constable of the West Midlands force, Phil Gormley, to investigate claims Mr Dizaei advised a defence team on how to undermine a criminal case brought by the Met for death by dangerous driving.
The senior officer, who was cleared of corruption charges at the Old Bailey five years ago, has been at the centre of a race war at the Yard alleging that the Met is still beset with racism.
Reader views (13)
He wore his uniform while off duty to a restaurant? why did he do that? Doesn't he earn enough money that he cannot afford to home and change into Civvie's...i think not, more to do with showing his job description by wearing his uniform and more importantly his rank! He should have been grateful to the country that gave him citizen ship, rather than complain and sue them for little or next to nothing.
- Anne,, Devon, 27/11/2008 23:39
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This man is a distraction when full atention is needed to stop terrism. He is clearly has his eye on a big settlement and has only his own interests at heart. With this type of man if you did nothing its likely he would find an excuse to claim a problem.
He must be exited for as little as possible as a warning to others.
- Jas, Camberley UK, 27/11/2008 18:44
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Abul welcome to The Metropolitan Police Force please pass 'GO' and collect your £300,000 and don't forget to collect your 'I'M A MUSLIM GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD'. Next we will be hearing about an Asian who phones up an Asian joke line and gets upset and wants to sue because they told him Asian jokes 'oh hang on a minute wasn't that in the papers today'. When will this PC crap stop?
- Frank, Chelsea., 27/11/2008 13:04
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This might seem a petty point to make --but as a ex -met uniform officer , if I had gone into a restaurant in full uniform with my wife for a meal either on OR off duty I would of been disciplined .
This man uses his uniform as an entitlement to do anything he fancies other than get on with his job !
Why has none of the evidence against this man been investigated by the press . From what I heard about his antics whilst I was at NSY this man should not be
directing traffic , let alone anything else !
- Nigel, France, 27/11/2008 11:56
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He gained his position because he played on his colour and creed. Now the Met are reaping the results of a very short sighted policy in fast tracking people for reasons other than they are qualified to do the job.
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 27/11/2008 09:36
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This man is the darling of the PC brigade, he will NOT face charges for anything. He is above the law.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 27/11/2008 00:30
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Given the antics of Ghaffur, Dizai and others, I sincerely hope that ethnic minorities heed the advice of the (racist) NBPA and boycott the police as a career option.
It will save us a fortune in vexatious litigation costs and free the Police to get on with tackling crime.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 27/11/2008 00:07
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Why was he wining and dining in uniform? Surely that's against the rules?
- Paul, Bromley, Kent, 26/11/2008 22:26
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No doubt the scheming Dizaei has already got his statutory '..it's only because i'm a muslim..' defence honed and ready to go. I would be highly surprised if the CPS take the risk of authorising a prosecution in the event he is found not guilty and another big payout beckons. I anticipate the CPS to announce there is 'insufficient evidence' or not in the 'public interest' before the Met promote Dizaei again as part of settling his hurt feelings.
- Pw, Croydon Uk, 26/11/2008 19:45
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Oh dear, time for a quick claim of racism and a £300,000 hand out no doubt.
- Roger, Staines., 26/11/2008 18:25
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Stop this bad press, when will this witch hunt end?
It seems you guys are on a mission to taint every senior police officer of colour!
- London For Obama, London, 26/11/2008 16:44
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Watch out or he will sue you all for being a rascist.
- P I Staker, London, 26/11/2008 15:34
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Well if they're going to go after him again they'd better get the big guns out, some people with real investigative & prosecuting experience. They'd better get their facts right and have covered all the bases, every eventuality. If not more taxpayers money will line this mendacious creature's pockets. This repellent individual is more slippery than an eel coated in vaseline and dipped in olive oil. Mind you, the edifice of the BPA may be crumbling, they've gone awfully quiet since the Tariq Ghaffur nonsense, which Dizaei seemed to be masterminding with his bent brief, which ended the other day on terms hardly envisaged by the greedy soon to be EX most senior Asian officer in the UK police service. He thought he'd get a lot more than he did, and the BPA had seriously started to believe their own publicity and that they really had some influence.
- Ranter, Maidstone, UK, 26/11/2008 14:58
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