A WITNESS has criticised police after investigators contacted his employer and told them he was a “person of interest” involved in a fraud case.

The Farnworth man, who asked not to be named, was a defence witness in the trial of police officer Insp Mohammed Razaq, and has now complained to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

He claims that the way police contacted his employers in Canada, where he now lives, put his job in jeopardy.

The 52-year-old, who had done some plumbing jobs for Razaq, emigrated to Canada during the first week in May, shortly after Razaq’s trial started.

The court agreed that he could give his evidence before he moved, out of the usual order as it was still on the prosecution case.

But he claims that officers in the police’s counter corruption unit contacted his employer on April 26.

The former Bolton resident said: “I was contacted by my solicitor in Canada, who had been forwarded an e-mail from my employer.

“The employer was obviously concerned and asked for an explanation.

“I am only a witness. This has caused me such anger and now distrust in the police and could have consequences of me losing my employment in Canada, which I have worked hard for.

“I want to know who was the officer who sent the e-mail and who is the commanding officer of this unit who authorised it, as I am not happy with the intimidation and the slur and defamation of my name.”

The IPCC has told him that Greater Manchester Police will investigate the matter internally, but a GMP spokesman said: “This matter is under consideration by the IPCC and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

* Razaq, aged 53, of Bradford Street, Great Lever, was in charge of the Bolton West neighbourhood police team until he was arrested in May 2011.

He was last week found guilty of six counts of fraud and three counts of money laundering at the end of a six-week trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, for making a string of fraudulent insurance and mortgage claims worth almost £46,000.