Police officer faces court over alleged offences against woman
Bedfordshire Temporary Superintendent Mo Aziz, 48, is charged with offences against a woman including four counts of rape.
A senior serving police officer has appeared in court charged with a string of alleged offences against a woman including four counts of rape.
Bedfordshire Temporary Superintendent Mo Aziz, 48, was arrested on the day the allegations were made in July last year and immediately suspended, according to the force.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with 10 offences against the same alleged victim, who cannot be identified, between 2015 and 2022.
The charges include four counts of rape, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, coercive and controlling behaviour, causing a female to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual photographs or film with intent to cause distress.
Aziz gave no indication of pleas to the charges but the court heard he denies the allegations.
District Judge Briony Clarke granted him bail ahead of his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on June 21, when he is expected to enter formal pleas.
Aziz must not contact the complainant or other prosecution witnesses, cannot attend two named addresses, and must surrender his passport.
After announcing the charges on Wednesday, Bedfordshire Police said: “We are committed to keeping women and girls safe and expect the highest standards of professionalism and integrity from our officers and staff.
“T/Supt Aziz was arrested on the day the allegations were first made in July last year and was immediately suspended.
“For transparency we referred the matter to an independent force to investigate.”