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Met Pc faces internal inquiry after being cleared of race assault
Justin Davenport, Crime Editor4 Nov 2009
A Met police officer who was cleared of racially assaulting two teenagers could face the sack if he is found guilty in internal misconduct proceedings.
Pc Mark Jones, 42, is facing an internal inquiry as it emerged that he was linked to a "serious, gratuitous and prolonged attack" on a Muslim that cost the force £60,000 in damages.
Today it can be revealed that Pc Jones was part of a team in the Met's Territorial Support Group involved in the arrest of Babar Ahmad, a British Muslim terror suspect.
Only now can the officer be linked to the 2003 raid on Mr Ahmad's home which left him in fear of his life after he was held in a neck brace, punched and mocked for his religious beliefs.
A High Court order was lifted after a trial at Kingston crown court yesterday where Pc Jones was unanimously cleared of racially aggravated common assault on two teenagers in June 2007.
Jurors were told that one 16-year-old Kuwaiti was abused by the officer who accused him of "robbing people while British soldiers are getting killed in Iraq". But Pc Jones denied any wrongdoing and the jury of five men and seven women cleared him.
The jury did not hear that Pc Jones was one of several officers involved in Mr Ahmad's arrest in Tooting.
The 34-year-old later received £60,000 in damages from the Met, following a civil action at the High Court.The family of Mr Ahmad, who is in prison awaiting extradition to the United States under terror legislation, want police officers to face prosecution over the assault.
At that time an order was imposed prohibiting linking Pc Jones to Mr Ahmad's arrest. High Court documents referred to him only as "Officer X".
The jury in Pc Jones's trial at Kingston was not told of Mr Ahmad's allegations against the officer or the civil case he brought against the Met.
Jurors were told how Pc Jones was among officers spotted a group of youths allegedly mouthing obscenities at them in Lambeth.
When they came to a stop, three teenagers were allegedly taken into the van one by one and subjected to taunts.
"Whistleblower" Pc Amechi Onwugbonu, the van driver, gave evidence against Pc Jones during the trial.
He said the officer swore at and kicked one teenager and walked over another youth as he lay handcuffed on the floor of the vehicle. He said a third teenager was sworn at, punched, kneed and slapped in the face.
But Pc Jones denied acting in an unprofessional manner and Pc Onwugbonu later admitted that he and Pc Jones were "not best buddies".
The case came down to one officer's word against another.
The jury took five hours to clear Pc Jones of two charges of racially aggravated common assault.
Four colleagues were found not guilty of misfeasance in public office.
Scotland Yard said Pc Jones would face internal misconduct proceedings as a matter of routine.
Reader views (1)
Why too close to the truth?
- Des Egan, london UK, 04/11/2009 12:56
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