Policeman from Wigan facing corruption trial will not testify at trial
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PC Akeel Kadir, who was based in Bolton, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court denying conspiracy to improperly exercise police powers and privileges between April 13, 2015 and November 13, 2019.
Alongside him in the dock are 53-year-old Soyab Dhalech, of 53, of Princess Road, Lostock, Bolton and Junaid Patel, who both deny the same offence.
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Hide AdA fourth man, Mohamed Soorma, 50, of Bankfield Street, Bolton, who also denied the charge, was acquitted by the jury on the judge’s directions following a successful defence application that there was no case to answer earlier this week. He was discharged from the dock.
Giving evidence to the court Patel, 36, of Edstone Close, Bolton, said that Kadir had helped with some insurance company information about claims his company, Apex Claims (UK) Ltd, based in Bolton, had been handling.
He denied asking him who had been involved in accidents but agreed he had “probably” asked him, or Kadir, told him how many vehicles had been involved.
Patel also agreed that sometimes Kadir was able to help clarify registration plate details and that Kadir would ring or message him with the details.
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Hide AdHe accepted he did not have a similar relationship with other police officers.
Cross-examined by Nicholas Johnson, KC, prosecuting, he agreed that there were advantages to Apex in having the information.
“Do you agree that Kadir by accessing police systems might have more details than solicitors?” asked Mr Johnson and Patel replied, “Yes.”
Patel agreed that it would help Apex to “significantly” speed up claims to have such information. Patel said it could take up to six months to get a police collision report and a fee was involved.
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Hide AdFurther questioned he agreed the company made a risk assessment as quickly as possible to see if they were going to make money out of handling a claim.
Kadir, 54, of Kilburn Road, Orrell, also faces three offences involving “knowingly or recklessly” obtaining or disclosing personal data on August 22, 2018, March 2, 2019 and 26 March, 2019 without consent of the data controller, which he denies.
When opening the case Mr Johnson told the jury that the case arose from an investigation by the GMP Anti-Corruption Unit into PC Kadir.
He alleged he “abused his position within the force to access secure systems and obtain confidential police information, which he then shared to the benefit of three friends, who were not part of the force.”
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Hide Ad“All three, Junaid Patel, Mohammed Soorma and Soyab Dhalech, were connected to a motor insurance claims company called Apex Claims (UK) Ltd. Much of the information PC Kadir provided was not for a proper policing purpose but to help out the business interests of his friends.
“There is evidence that PC Kadir received over £8,000 during the period this useful information was provided, the payments often overseen by Soyab Dhalech and coming via third party company payments. PC Kadir quickly spent the money he received, mainly through online gambling,” claimed Mr Johnson..
“Despite his training, PC Kadir says he thought this was proper policing.