During the first trial, Dizaei likened the allegations to something from “an episode of Life on Mars or the Sweeney”. The jury found him guilty of misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice and he was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2010. But he secured a retrial after the Court of Appeal ruled in May the conviction could not “be regarded as safe” after fresh evidence cast doubt on Mr Al-Baghdadi’s credibility as a witness.
