DIZAEI: FORMER MET COMMANDER HAS BAIL CONDITIONS RELAXED AHEAD OF RETRIAL

The Former Scotland Yard commander Ali Dizaei has had his bail conditions relaxed while awaiting a retrial over claims he framed an innocent businessman for assault .

The 48-year-old today (THURS) successfully applied to remove the condition that he live and sleep at an address in west London.

Dizaei was jailed for four years in February 2010 for corruption before having his conviction quashed in May 2011.

He now faces a retrial on charges of misconduct in a public office and attempting to pervert the course of justice between July 17 and 20, 2008, due to take place on January 12, 2012.

The former Westlink Commander in charge of ten London Boroughs and the head of the National Black Police Association was said to have engaged in a ‘wholesale abuse of power for personal motives’ after he rowed over money with the then 24-year-old web developer Waad Al-Baghdadi.

Dizaei’s conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal after it ruled that new evidence “significantly discredits” the principal witness against him.

The ruling was made after it emerged al-Baghdadi told the pension and benefits departments his father was alive so that he could collect his £100-a-week pension, plus an allowance for caring for him.

Today (THUR) Dizaei’s barrister Richard Orme said: ‘My application is that the defendant be put back in the position that he was in prior to his first trial.

‘Namely that there be one condition solely and that is one of having no contact with any prosecution witnesses.’

Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC agreed to remove the condition of residence but said Dizaei must notify the prosecution at least 48 hours before wishing to travel outside of the UK.

Dizaei, of (12) the Bye, in Acton, west London will appear before Southwark Crown Court on January 12, 2012, for his retrial.  

ENDS