Inquiry into police set-up claim is over
From the Northern Echo, first published Friday 2nd Aug 2002.
OPERATION Granite, a three year investigation into a North-East policeman's claims that he was set up by fellow officers, has been completed, it was revealed last night.
The inquiry into the allegations by ex-Cleveland Police traffic officer Sultan Alam, was carried out by officers from the neighbouring Northumbrian force.
Mr Alam served nine months of an 18-month prison sentence for allegedly handling stolen car parts, despite protesting his innocence.
The Police Complaints Authority supervised an inquiry into his allegations that he had been set up.
The PCA has now informed Cleveland Police it is satisfied with the conduct of the independent investigation.
It has passed the report to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether or not police officers should be charged.
Only then will the results be known.
Solicitor Chris Eyre is seeking to clear Mr Alam's name and to have the Court of Appeal rule his 1996 conviction unsafe.
He said yesterday: "I am very glad that this long-running saga has taken a major step forward - that the investigation is not only officially finished, but from the point of view of the Police Complaints Authority it has been properly conducted, which is not something I ever doubted.
"It clears the way for the Crown Prosecution Service to take further action, and I am hopeful that we will be hearing in the none too distant future."
Cleveland Police Assistant Chief Constable Bryan Bell said: "The Crown Prosecution Service headquarters in London is currently considering a file of evidence and it would be inappropriate of me to speculate or pass any further comment until such time as CPS headquarters make their decision.''
A Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman said that the file was still under review. | 
