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HomeNewsDeputy PCC forced to quit after interfering with murder plot trial

Deputy PCC forced to quit after interfering with murder plot trial

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A DEPUTY police and crime commissioner resigned from her post following a complaint made to police after attempting to interfere with a murder plot trial.

Tafheen Sharif, 32, tried to get a judge to stop her cousin’s name being published as the relative gave evidence about a love triangle that led to her fiance being shot.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, Olly Martins, was made aware of a complaint about his deputy, Sharif, on July 30 after concerns were raised that she had contacted a court about an attempted murder case.

It is understood that Sharif, who represents Dallow ward in Luton as a  councillor, was then called in by Martins who told her position had become 'untenable'. She resigned over the summer but her departure were kept strictly under wraps.

Last week it emerged that a complaint was made by staff at the court to police officers about the deputy PCC's conduct.

Sharif said at the time: "I am not in a position to comment on my resignation yet but will do so when the time comes."

Sharif’s cousin cousin Nazeem Dadd had been engaged to accountant Atif Ali, 28. She was involved with another man Shahzad Mahroof, but her family did not approve of the match. Mahroof hired hitman Bernard Pillay to kill Ali in what the judge called a ‘brutal and callous act’.

Ali’s silver Audi was rammed off the road by Pillay in Luton in May 2013. When he got out of his car, Pillay blasted him in the leg with a sawn-off shotgun and although he survived after emergency surgery, he was left with life-changing injuries.

A trial began in July this year but just before Dadd was due in the witness box, Sharif contacted the court to ask the judge if her cousin could be granted anonymity.

At the same time as Sharif resigned, Martins was facing the possibility of criminal charges of misconduct in public office himself after he leaked confidential information regarding the death of Leon Briggs in Luton police custody to his partner who in turn told others. The Crown Prosecution Service has since announced it will not be taking further action against the PCC.

In a statement issued on Friday (19), Martins said: "I was informed on July 30 by the police and representatives of the court of concerns about Ms Sharif’s conduct in relation to an ongoing trial for attempted murder.

"I met with her the next day and after discussions we concluded that her position was untenable.

"For sub-judice reasons it was not possible to comment on this matter, other than to confirm the resignation, while the trial and any subsequent sentencing were ongoing.

"This issue has been referred to the appropriate authorities and it would therefore be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage.

"This situation is clearly completely different to my own, which is borne out by the announcement of the Crown Prosecution Service earlier this week.”

The matter is being referred to the Police and Crime Panel for Bedfordshire, which holds the PCC and deputy PCC to account, who will discuss the situation at a later date.

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