Cop suspended on full pay for years

A Canterbury police officer who was acquitted of raping a 12-year-old girl has been off work on full pay for the last three years, waiting for an internal disciplinary hearing.

The officer, with permanent name suppression, was found not guilty of the rape charge at his trial in April 2008.

Figures revealed under the Official Information Act to The Press show the man's annual salary between $56,137 and $81,356, has been paid to him since December 2006, when he was stood down.

Police human resources general manager Wayne Annan said it would be inappropriate to discuss the internal disciplinary process and why it had taken so long to be heard.

- NZPA