Crown prosecutor held on corruption charges SUMMER; CID officer also arrested.

Byline: David James 

A SENIOR CPS official and a relative were today appearing in Magistrates' Court charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Saf Ibrahim, a CPS prosecutor who has been honoured by the Government, is facing a charge of misconduct in public office and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

A relative of Mr Ibrahim was appearing in court today alongside him facing charges of aiding and abetting misconduct in public office and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

A third man, a South Wales Police detective constable working in Cardiff, has also been arrested in relation to allegations of misconduct in public office and is on police bail.

The arrests follow a long-term investigation led by the London-based Serious Organised Crime Agency, a national law-enforcement body described as Britain's answer to America federal crime agencies like the FBI.

The investigation is understood to have led to raids last week and the arrests of the three men.

A spokeswoman for the agency said: "Two men have been charged with misconduct in a public office and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

"They will be appearing on Saturday morning in Swansea Magistrates' Court."

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that Saf Ibrahim was a member of Gwent CPS' staff.

She said: "The arrest and charge on this individual was the result of a planned operation with which the CPS was closely involved from the early stages.

"The CPS took urgent action to tackle this situation. It clearly recognises the need to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the service it delivers."

Ibrahim regularly appears in Crown Court to prosecute cases on behalf of Gwent CPS.

In November 2005, he received an award from Home Office Minister Baroness Scot-lanin recognition of his "contribution to the justice system".

Ibrahim, then a senior Crown Prosecutor in Bristol, was said to have been "instrumental in recruiting more people from BME communities into the public services".

A spokesman for South Wales Police confirmed that a police officer working in the Cardiff force had been arrested.

He said: "South Wales Police can confirm that an officer working in Cardiff is being investigated in relation to allegations of misconduct in public office.

"The officer is currently on police bail therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."