Mar.19, 2010, 6:10 pm

A NELSON police sergeant has been remanded in custody after being charged with money laundering and perverting the course of justice.

Salim Razaq, 32, is also charged with misconduct in a public office, three counts of possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

Razaq was remanded in custody when he appeared at Wirral Magistrates' Court today.

His Lancashire police colleagues raided his home address in Walton-le-Dale, on Tuesday, cordoning off parts of the street.

Detectives were then granted an extra 36 hours to question him before charges were brought.

On Thursday, his 57-year-old mother Gulshan Razaq, from Chester Road, Preston, appeared at Wirral Magistrates' Court charged with perverting the course of justice.

Her case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on April 8. No plea was entered.

Mrs Razaq was given conditional bail and has had to surrender her passport.

She must remain indoors at the family home between 7pm and 7am each night and has been electronically tagged.

Other bail conditions include non-contact with her sons Salim and Hafiz and she must not apply for any travel documents.

Sgt Razaq's younger brother, 25-year-old Hafiz Razaq, was brought in custody from Cumbrian jail HMP Haverigg before Wirral magistrates, also on Thursday.

He is charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and his case was also sent to Liverpool Crown Court for a hearing on April 8.

No plea was entered and Hafiz Razaq was returned to custody.

The arrests and subsequent charges are part of a probe by the constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

The inquiry is being led by Assistant Chief Constable Andy Cooke.

Police arrested eight people and seized money, firearms and ammunition after a series of swoops across the county.

Police raided the officer's home in Walton-le-Dale, early on Tuesday morning.

Four men aged 22, 25, 26 and 31, and a 37-year-old woman have been given police bail pending further inquiries.