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Ali Dizaei trial witness 'betrayed' by deportation ruling | Ali Dizaei trial witness 'betrayed' by deportation ruling |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The man whose evidence convicted corrupt former Met Police commander Ali Dizaei says he has been "betrayed" by Britain after his deportation ruling. | The man whose evidence convicted corrupt former Met Police commander Ali Dizaei says he has been "betrayed" by Britain after his deportation ruling. |
The Home Office said Waad al-Baghdadi should be deported after lying about his age when he came to the UK. | The Home Office said Waad al-Baghdadi should be deported after lying about his age when he came to the UK. |
Mr al-Baghdadi was previously asked to testify against the ex-Scotland Yard senior officer in two trials. | Mr al-Baghdadi was previously asked to testify against the ex-Scotland Yard senior officer in two trials. |
Dizaei falsely accused Mr al-Baghdadi of assault and then arrested him. | Dizaei falsely accused Mr al-Baghdadi of assault and then arrested him. |
A former commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has said it would be "an appalling injustice" if the witness is deported. | A former commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has said it would be "an appalling injustice" if the witness is deported. |
Mr al-Baghdadi has now claimed asylum - saying he fears for his life if deported to either Iraq or Iran. | Mr al-Baghdadi has now claimed asylum - saying he fears for his life if deported to either Iraq or Iran. |
Mr Dizaei told the BBC: "Waad al Baghdadi's lies about his immigration status alarmed the public, including my friends, family and associates, who wrote to their MPs of their own accord." | Mr Dizaei told the BBC: "Waad al Baghdadi's lies about his immigration status alarmed the public, including my friends, family and associates, who wrote to their MPs of their own accord." |
He went on to say if his wife had not reported al-Baghdadi, he "would probably still be claiming the benefits today". | He went on to say if his wife had not reported al-Baghdadi, he "would probably still be claiming the benefits today". |
The case began in 2008, by which point Dizaei's bosses had already spent up to £7m investigating him for alleged corruption. | The case began in 2008, by which point Dizaei's bosses had already spent up to £7m investigating him for alleged corruption. |
In a Kensington restaurant one summer evening, Dizaei got into an argument with a young web designer who was asking to be paid. | In a Kensington restaurant one summer evening, Dizaei got into an argument with a young web designer who was asking to be paid. |
But Dizaei didn't pay him - instead he arrested him and called 999 for urgent back-up. | But Dizaei didn't pay him - instead he arrested him and called 999 for urgent back-up. |
But the only crime committed that evening was by Dizaei. He inflicted injuries on himself to try to frame an innocent man. | But the only crime committed that evening was by Dizaei. He inflicted injuries on himself to try to frame an innocent man. |
That man was Mr al-Baghdadi. His evidence was crucial in jailing Dizaei. But now, eight years on, he is being thrown out of the country because he lied about his age to get in. | That man was Mr al-Baghdadi. His evidence was crucial in jailing Dizaei. But now, eight years on, he is being thrown out of the country because he lied about his age to get in. |
Mr al-Baghdadi said: "I knew there were some bad things about me I've done in the past. | Mr al-Baghdadi said: "I knew there were some bad things about me I've done in the past. |
"I knew if I testified against Ali Dizaei these might come to the light. But I chose to do the right thing." | "I knew if I testified against Ali Dizaei these might come to the light. But I chose to do the right thing." |
He said British authorities knew he had lied about his past and that he was a benefits cheat - but were still happy to use him as the key witness to convict Dizaei. | He said British authorities knew he had lied about his past and that he was a benefits cheat - but were still happy to use him as the key witness to convict Dizaei. |
He says now they have betrayed him. | He says now they have betrayed him. |
Mr al-Baghdadi added: "They used me. They held a gun against Ali Dizaei and I was the bullet. So my life was destroyed. | Mr al-Baghdadi added: "They used me. They held a gun against Ali Dizaei and I was the bullet. So my life was destroyed. |
"I sacrificed my life. Not in one trial but in two trials." | "I sacrificed my life. Not in one trial but in two trials." |
Life 'ruined' | Life 'ruined' |
The first of the two trials happened in 2010, when a jury believed Mr al-Baghdadi's evidence that he had been framed by Dizaei. | The first of the two trials happened in 2010, when a jury believed Mr al-Baghdadi's evidence that he had been framed by Dizaei. |
Dizaei was jailed. | Dizaei was jailed. |
But the following year the verdict was overturned when a retrial was ordered after it emerged Mr al-Baghdadi had lied about his personal details and had claimed £27,000 benefits on behalf of his late father. | But the following year the verdict was overturned when a retrial was ordered after it emerged Mr al-Baghdadi had lied about his personal details and had claimed £27,000 benefits on behalf of his late father. |
And Mr al-Baghdadi was jailed. | And Mr al-Baghdadi was jailed. |
However, the following year, just weeks after he had been released, the prosecution asked him to be their main witness once again. | However, the following year, just weeks after he had been released, the prosecution asked him to be their main witness once again. |
A second jury again believed him - and Dizaei was jailed once more. | A second jury again believed him - and Dizaei was jailed once more. |
In 2012, a commissioner at the IPCC, Deborah Glass, said: "If that great power is abused by any police officer, it is vital they be held to account for it:" | In 2012, a commissioner at the IPCC, Deborah Glass, said: "If that great power is abused by any police officer, it is vital they be held to account for it:" |
Dizaei's wife | Dizaei's wife |
Ms Glass has since left the IPCC. She said: "Mr al-Baghdadi had nothing to gain by pursuing a complaint against Ali Dizaei - except justice. | Ms Glass has since left the IPCC. She said: "Mr al-Baghdadi had nothing to gain by pursuing a complaint against Ali Dizaei - except justice. |
"The kind of courage he showed in giving evidence is fundamental to bringing corrupt officials to account. | "The kind of courage he showed in giving evidence is fundamental to bringing corrupt officials to account. |
"If this man is deported as a direct result of his challenging a powerful and corrupt police officer, that would be a most appalling injustice." | "If this man is deported as a direct result of his challenging a powerful and corrupt police officer, that would be a most appalling injustice." |
Mr al-Baghdadi said what happened at the Kensington restaurant back in 2008 has ruined his life - he claims ever since he decided to stand up to Ali Dizaei, he has faced a campaign against him. | Mr al-Baghdadi said what happened at the Kensington restaurant back in 2008 has ruined his life - he claims ever since he decided to stand up to Ali Dizaei, he has faced a campaign against him. |
Numerous allegations have been made against the man - including rape - but he was never charged. | Numerous allegations have been made against the man - including rape - but he was never charged. |
Documents submitted to an Immigration Tribunal reveal seven letters were written to the government asking about al-Baghdadi's immigration status. | Documents submitted to an Immigration Tribunal reveal seven letters were written to the government asking about al-Baghdadi's immigration status. |
In them, the IPCC said: "There is intelligence held by the IPCC which links the authors of all of these letters to Mr Dizaei." | In them, the IPCC said: "There is intelligence held by the IPCC which links the authors of all of these letters to Mr Dizaei." |
They also refer to a tip-off to the authorities that al-Baghdadi had committed benefit fraud. | They also refer to a tip-off to the authorities that al-Baghdadi had committed benefit fraud. |
The IPCC found: "It was established that the person who had originally made the anonymous allegations to the DWP was the second wife of Mr Dizaei." | The IPCC found: "It was established that the person who had originally made the anonymous allegations to the DWP was the second wife of Mr Dizaei." |
A spokesman for the Home Office said it would not comment on ongoing legal proceedings, but added: "When someone is found to no longer need our protection, we expect them to leave the country voluntarily. | |
"Where they do not, we will seek to enforce their departure." |