16-year veteran of the NYPD, Detective Said Salim, saw his perjury charges dismissed on 24 March regarding his testimony concerning a drug bust back in 2009.
Salim was charged with lying to a grand jury when he searched two suspects, claiming he had probable cause after witnessing a bag of drugs fall to the ground. The prosecution alleged Salim lied about the drugs to cover up his illegal search of the two suspects.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser threw out the detective’s indictment for lack of evidence. The prosecution’s evidence, in her opinion, offered evidence which suggested Salim’s original testimony was only “misleading” where “intentionally false” testimony would be required to convict for perjury.
The Prosecution’s Case Falters
The video evidence the prosecution had entered allegedly supported their argument that Salim had searched suspects Wayne Davis and Jose Martinez. Konviser disagreed, however, saying the video appeared “grainy” and “appears to have been recorded from across multiple lanes of traffic.”
Salim’s lawyer, Mark Bederow of the Law Office of Mark A. Bederow, P.C., remarked that “It has always been our position that this was a weak case which never should have been indicted and we hope that this is the end of it.”
Prosecutors, meanwhile will need to decide if they should seek a new indictment. “We’re currently reviewing the judge’s decision, “Manhattan DA spokeswoman Joan Vollero reported.
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