ALLEGATIONS that an Asian ex-policeman was set up by fellow officers for a jail sentence are now being considered by a barrister.

Earlier this year the Police Complaints Authority informed Cleveland Police it was satisfied with the conduct of an independent investigation into claims by ex-traffic officer Sultan Alam. The file was then passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which must decide whether or not police officers named by Mr Alam should be charged.

The CPS in turn referred the file to retained counsel for advice and it has emerged that several months on the matter set for a fast track decision has still not been determined. A spokesman for the CPS said: "The papers are still with counsel, so we are awaiting counsel's advice.''

Mr Alam served nine months of an 18-month prison sentence for allegedly handling stolen car parts, despite protesting his innocence.

His allegations that lies were told at his trial led to the setting up of a three- year investigation, Operation Granite, carried out by officers from the neighbouring Northumbrian force.

Mr Alam's solicitor, Chris Eyre, is seeking to clear his client's name and to have the Court of Appeal rule his 1996 conviction unsafe.