Inquiry as 'murder plot' trial collapses

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched by the Independent Police Complaints Commission after a judge criticised South Yorkshire Police officers when he threw out a trial relating to the murder of Sheffield takeaway boss Safrajur Jahangir.

Mr Justice Sweeney said there had been "failures on a disturbing scale" when the trial of six men accused of plotting the execution of 23-year-old Mr Jahangir dramatically collapsed at Sheffield Court on June 30.

Mr Jahangir was shot dead at the wheel of his car in Scraith Wood Drive, Shirecliffe, in August 2009 as he responded to a bogus order for curry.

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As the judge formally entered not guilty verdicts for the six defendants, he criticised South Yorkshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for failing to disclose vital evidence to the defence team which he said had denied the men a fair trial.

Six men – Mohim Khan, Mukid Khan, Munaim Khan, Mohammed Shaffique, Saul Mohsin and Jay Allen – had been on trial for nine weeks when they were found not guilty of conspiring to commit murder.

The judge dubbed the case collapse a "disaster" and said there the cost to the taxpayer could run to more than 1m.

IPCC commissioner Nicholas Long said yesterday: "The judge in this case clearly had serious concerns about the disclosure of evidence to the defence.

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"It is right that a fully independent investigation is conducted by the IPCC to determine the reasons behind the collapse of the trial and whether any lessons can be learned."

Following the dismissal of the trial, South Yorkshire Police referred the matter to the IPCC and, as a result, an independent investigation will now be conducted into the alleged failure to disclose evidence.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: "The force will fully co-operate with the Independent Police Complaints Commission's independent investigation.

"Meanwhile, the force has already undertaken to review the murder investigation and a team, headed by a senior South Yorkshire Police officer, is currently being assembled.

"A meeting has already taken place with Mr Jahangir's relatives to explain police action."