A Merseyside Police chief inspector owed thousands to an allegedly crooked property developer at the centre of a major criminal investigation, a misconduct panel heard.
Chief Inspector Stephen Rice, a 24 year veteran of the force, had a significant side business as a landlord and boasted a portfolio of properties across Merseyside worth in excess of £2.5m.
Although he is not accused of any involvement in criminal offences, and denies wrongdoing, the senior officer is alleged to have lied about regularly contacting the prime suspect in an Economic Crime Team probe called Operation Benadir, investigating allegations of large-scale property fraud.
