I'll be cleared, says suspended Met commander

Suspended Scotland Yard officer Ali Dizaei said today he will be cleared of misusing his corporate credit card.

The senior officer said an inquiry by Dorset Chief Constable Martin Baker found a series of allegations against him were unfounded and baseless.

Mr Dizaei, 47, was accused of failing to repay money he spent on a police American Express card and not keeping receipts.

It was alleged he spent more than £5,000 on clothes and perfume while on a trip to the United States.

A file was passed back to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) earlier this week.

But it is now for members of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) to examine it and decide whether Mr Dizaei should face any further action.

Alfred John, of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, which supports Mr Dizaei, said the officer always maintained the claims were without foundation.

He said: "Following a 14-month criminal investigation, where Commander Dizaei's expenses going back several years have been scrutinised, Dorset Police concluded that there was no case to answer and the allegations have been withdrawn.

"We are pleased that our member has been fully vindicated of this grave allegation and we thank the Chief Constable of Dorset Police and his team for an open and transparent investigation.

"We shall continue to support all of our members against unfounded and baseless allegations."

The MPA ordered an external inquiry in June 2008 when the allegations against Mr Dizaei first emerged.

He was caught up in a wider probe examining abuse of the corporate credit card system at Scotland Yard by dozens of officers.

Mr Dizaei remains suspended from duty as he prepares to go on trial early next year over corruption charges linked to a scuffle in a restaurant.

He denies misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice. The two-week trial is expected to begin on January 12.

A MPA spokesman declined to comment on the contents of Mr Baker's report.

He said: "The MPA has received the final report of an IPCC managed investigation by the Chief Constable of Dorset Police into allegations of misuse of a corporate credit card by a senior Met officer.

"The report will be considered in due course by the authority's professional standards cases sub-committee."

An IPCC spokeswoman said the report was received on Wednesday and considered by London representative Deborah Glass.

She said: "That report has today been passed to the Metropolitan Police Authority who will need to consider what, if any, action should be taken in response."

The next meeting of the MPA's professional standards committee takes place on 19 November.