>From the Northern Echo, first published Thursday 2nd May 2002.
CROWN Prosecution Service lawyers are expected to decide within the next two weeks
if police officers should be charged over the jailing of a former fellow officer.
A three-year investigation into allegations that a number of Cleveland Police officers,
thought to run into double figures, were involved in an attempt to frame a colleague
has now been concluded.
And yesterday the dossier was handed to the Police Complaints Authority and CPS
who will determine whether any of the officers should face charges.
In 1996, ex-Cleveland Police traffic policeman Sultan Alam was jailed for 18 months
for handling stolen car parts despite protesting his innocence and claiming he had
been framed by colleagues.
Mr Alam, the only ethnic minority officer in Cleveland Police's traffic department
at the time, served nine months in prison.
On his release, allegations surrounding evidence given at his trial were put before
the Police Complaints Authority. A list of police officers' names, running into
double figures, was handed to investigators.
Chris Eyre, his solicitor, said: "After Sully's release in 1997, I set out
with the purpose of clearing his name and having his conviction overturned. And
it is my hope that when released, the contents of this report will help achieve
that end."
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "In July 1999, senior officers from Northumbria
Police were appointed to investigate a complaint by Sultan Alam, a former constable
of Cleveland Police, who alleged that a number of officers from the force had committed
perjury and conspired to pervert the course of justice, prior to and in the course
of a criminal investigation which ultimately led to his conviction at Teesside Crown
Court in December 1996.
"He also complained that officers told lies during the course of employment
tribunal proceedings which he commenced prior to his arrest in 1994."
A Crown Prosecution spokesman said: "We can confirm receipt and it is a matter
we will begin to read and to apply tests, to enable a decision to be made."
The first test will be to look for a "sufficiency of evidence if a jury, properly
directed, could determine a question of guilt or innocence".
Mr Alam lost his tribunal case - brought before he stood trial - but panel chairman
Peter Rennie said several officers had been "less than frank" and suffered
a "convenient and partial loss of memory".
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