The Directing Officer for the investigation into the conspiracy to murder the Prime Minister and others revealed in court today that he was purposely removed from the case to derail investigations.

During cross examination in the High Court this morning, ACP Nazir Ali was asked by Defence Council Iqbal Khan as to why it stated in his statement that he was upset, to which Ali said that since 1992 he had been complaining about police corruption and it was because of this.

He believed that he was removed from the case to derail investigations.

When Khan questioned Ali if he knew which officers were allegedly trying to derail investigations, Ali replied that he could not reveal much as he was talking to the Commissioner of Police about the matter.

Ali was also questioned by the Defence about the procedures taken by police in investigating the matter and was asked on what basis were the arresting charges made, to which he replied that police have special powers under the Criminal Procedure Code to arrest first and charge later and taking into account the seriousness of the allegations, this is what they did with the eight accused.

The trial continues.