Asian Police Officer Sultan Alam ‘Stitched Up’ by Colleagues Receives £400,000

Former Cleveland Police Officer Sultan Alam has been awarded £400,000 for wrongful imprisonment after an 18-year battle.

Ex-traffic officer Alam, 49, was jailed for 18 months in 1996 for conspiracy to steal car parts but was eventually cleared by the Court of Appeal in 2007.

Alam had told Leeds County Court he believes he was "stitched up" by fellow officers following a tribunal he launched in 1993 after complaining of racial discrimination.

Judge Andrew Keyser QC agreed that force had tried to "destroy" his reputation and awarded Alam total of £399,660 in compensation, as well as a separate sum for loss of earnings.

Alam eventually cleared his name and was reinstated to Cleveland police in 2007 before retitring on medical grounds in 2009.

In 2003, four fellow officers involved in Alam's prosecution were charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and other offences, but were cleared in court.

In his judgement published on Wednesday, Judge Keyser said: "The claimant knew that he was not the unfortunate victim of an accidental miscarriage of justice but that he was the deliberate target of a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, the aim of which was to destroy his reputation and his career.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "Cleveland Police are pleased to confirm the conclusion today of Mr Alam's claim for compensation, although the finer details are yet to be finalised.

"The award of compensation to Mr Alam now draws a line under this unfortunate matter. We wish Mr Alam well for the future."