Disgraced Dizaei paid just £750 court costs

Disgraced former police officer Ali Dizaei paid just £750 towards the five-figure cost of putting him on trial, it can be disclosed today.

Prosecutors originally demanded £64,500 after the former Scotland Yard commander was jailed for four years after being found guilty of corruption in February.

But court officials confirmed his legal team successfully reduced the substantial bill and negotiated four months to pay.

It is understood they argued Dizaei, 47, could not meet the bill and outlined his apparently limited assets in a behind-the-scenes exchange of letters.

Dizaei, who earned about £90,000 until his dismissal, also faced a considerable bill from his defence, headed by Michael Mansfield QC.

Mr Mansfield, who can command up to £1,900 a day for his services, came out of retirement for the four-week trial.

Jailing Dizaei on February 8, Mr Justice Simon was told there would be a "substantial application for costs".

But Mr Mansfield replied: "As far as this defendant is concerned, his career in the police service is at an end.

"What means of support he will be able to continue in the future is highly speculative."

Dizaei was convicted of attempting to frame an Iraqi businessman when they fell out over money, after a jury was told he acted like a gangster.

The officer threatened, assaulted, falsely arrested and faked evidence against the younger man, who built him a vanity website.

The two men clashed in the street after being caught on CCTV arguing at a Persian restaurant, Yas, in west London.

He continues to fight the conviction and sentence as his legal team prepare a last-ditch bid to ask a panel of judges to reconsider his appeal.

The former officer believes he has grounds to prove his trial was unfair and that his jail term is too harsh.

He has endured a torrid time in prison, including a violent attack, racist threats and an incident in which excrement was poured over his head.

Dizaei has also pledged to sue prison authorities for failing to protect him from a fellow inmate who he claimed made racist threats.

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) is yet to consider whether it will apply to make Dizaei forfeit some or all of his estimated £1 million pension pot.

The Home Secretary must agree his crimes were "gravely injurious to the interests of the state" or liable to lead to loss of confidence in police.

Dizaei earned several hundred thousand pounds while suspended on full pay awaiting the 2010 trial and an earlier corruption trial in 2003.

He emerged unscathed from earlier inquiries, including a multimillion-pound undercover operation examining claims of corruption, fraud and dishonesty.

A Southwark Crown Court spokesman said: "A £750 prosecution costs order was made on April 23 and he was due to pay within four months."

Dizaei's solicitor did not respond to a request for comment.