Metropolitan Police commander, Ali Dizaei described as ‘criminal in uniform’
BRITAIN’S most senior Asian police officer has been jailed for four years after he tried to frame an innocent businessman over a financial dispute.
Metropolitan Police commander, Ali Dizaei, threatened and falsely arrested website developer Waad Al-Baghdadi, 24 after the two rowed over £600 owed to Mr Al-Baghdadi.
Southwark Crown Court was told Dizaei engaged in a “wholesale abuse of power for personal motives”.
He was jailed for two years and two years on licence.
Nick Hardwick, Chair of the Independent Police Complaints committee described Dizaei as a “bully”, adding “the greatest threat to the reputation of the police service is criminals in uniform like Dizaei.”
The court was told Mr Al-Baghdadi confronted Dizaei in July 2008 over a payment of £600 that was owed to him.
But he was threatened and arrested after Dizaei accused him of attacking him.
The court was told Dizaei faked injuries to back up his claims, and engaged in a campaign to smear Mr Al-Baghdadi by claiming he had been caught using stolen credit cards.
Mr Al-Baghdadi spent nearly 24 hours in a police cell and was the subject of a full police investigation before the case was dropped by prosecution lawyers.
Dizaei’s deceit was finally uncovered when the IPCC launched an investigation following a complaint by Mr Al-Baghdadi.
Speaking after the verdict, Nick Hardwick, Chair of the IPCC said: “When Mr Al Baghdadi tried to get Commander Dizaei to pay him the money he owed him, Dizaei assaulted and then arrested him. He went on to lie about what had happened and, if he had been successful, Mr Al Baghdadi may have been sent to prison.
“Dizaei behaved like a bully and the only way to deal with bullies is to stand up to them.
“The greatest threat to the reputation of the police service is criminals in uniform like Dizaei. Corruption comes in many forms and remains a threat to the police service. It requires constant vigilance to fight it. Integrity must not be negotiable.”
Gaon Hart, reviewing lawyer for CPS Special Crime Division, added: “Mr Dizaei’s corruption, which would be deplorable in any police officer, was all the more so given his position as a highly ranked Police Commander.
“The public entrust the police with considerable powers and with that comes considerable responsibility. Mr Dizaei abused that power and ignored that responsibility.”
