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Man 'scared by Dizaei challenge' | Man 'scared by Dizaei challenge' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A web designer has described how police commander Ali Dizaei challenged him to fight during a row over £600. | A web designer has described how police commander Ali Dizaei challenged him to fight during a row over £600. |
Southwark Crown Court heard Mr Dizaei, 47, rowed with Waad Al-Baghdadi when he demanded payment for work on a website. | Southwark Crown Court heard Mr Dizaei, 47, rowed with Waad Al-Baghdadi when he demanded payment for work on a website. |
Mr Al-Baghdadi, 24, said he was left "scared" and "shocked" when the "muscly and bigger" man challenged him near a restaurant in Kensington, west London. | Mr Al-Baghdadi, 24, said he was left "scared" and "shocked" when the "muscly and bigger" man challenged him near a restaurant in Kensington, west London. |
Mr Dizaei denies assault, false arrest, misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice. | Mr Dizaei denies assault, false arrest, misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice. |
The court heard a dispute between the men came to a head in July 2008 when Mr Al-Baghdadi demanded payment from Britain's most senior Asian officer for work on his personal website, alidizaei.com. | The court heard a dispute between the men came to a head in July 2008 when Mr Al-Baghdadi demanded payment from Britain's most senior Asian officer for work on his personal website, alidizaei.com. |
A fortnight's work on the site was said to have stretched for months as Mr Dizaei sent the designer a stream of new speeches, photographs and articles mentioning him to be uploaded. | A fortnight's work on the site was said to have stretched for months as Mr Dizaei sent the designer a stream of new speeches, photographs and articles mentioning him to be uploaded. |
He said, 'Let's go to that street, I will show you Waad Al-Baghdadi | He said, 'Let's go to that street, I will show you Waad Al-Baghdadi |
Mr Al-Baghdadi, an Iraqi national in the UK since 2003, told the court he confronted the police officer after seeing him drunk and dancing at the Persian Yas restaurant in Edgware Road. | Mr Al-Baghdadi, an Iraqi national in the UK since 2003, told the court he confronted the police officer after seeing him drunk and dancing at the Persian Yas restaurant in Edgware Road. |
He said: "He told me, 'do not talk in front of my wife like this', in a very aggressive way. | He said: "He told me, 'do not talk in front of my wife like this', in a very aggressive way. |
"He pointed with his left hand. He said, 'Let's go to that street, I will show you."' | "He pointed with his left hand. He said, 'Let's go to that street, I will show you."' |
Mr al-Baghdadi continued: "I was shocked - I did not know what to do. | Mr al-Baghdadi continued: "I was shocked - I did not know what to do. |
"If I fight, I will go to jail because he is a police officer." | "If I fight, I will go to jail because he is a police officer." |
The designer said he returned to the restaurant in an attempt to defuse the row, only to be confronted by Mr Dizaei once more. | The designer said he returned to the restaurant in an attempt to defuse the row, only to be confronted by Mr Dizaei once more. |
Commander Dizaei allegedly bullied the web designer | |
At that point he left and called 999 to complain about the officer, only for Mr Dizaei to appear with handcuffs, interrupt the call and arrest him. | At that point he left and called 999 to complain about the officer, only for Mr Dizaei to appear with handcuffs, interrupt the call and arrest him. |
Mr Al-Baghdadi could be heard complaining in Persian that his arm or hand may break, the prosecution said. | Mr Al-Baghdadi could be heard complaining in Persian that his arm or hand may break, the prosecution said. |
But after the incident Mr Dizaei showed a doctor at the police station injuries to his abdomen that the doctor said were likely to be self-inflicted. | But after the incident Mr Dizaei showed a doctor at the police station injuries to his abdomen that the doctor said were likely to be self-inflicted. |
He claimed to have been stabbed in the stomach by the end of a traditional 'hookah' water-pipe. | He claimed to have been stabbed in the stomach by the end of a traditional 'hookah' water-pipe. |
The prosecutor has also said Mr Dizaei claimed to have received threatening voicemails and text messages from Mr Al-Baghdadi before the incident, but had "accidentally" deleted them. | The prosecutor has also said Mr Dizaei claimed to have received threatening voicemails and text messages from Mr Al-Baghdadi before the incident, but had "accidentally" deleted them. |
Mr Dizaei, a former president of the National Black Police Association, was prosecuted following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. | Mr Dizaei, a former president of the National Black Police Association, was prosecuted following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. |
The case continues. | The case continues. |
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