Calgary police officer Gerard Brand found not guilty of corruption-related charges

Calgary police officer Gerard Brand has been found notguilty of corruption-related charges by a jury that had been deliberating since Thursday morning.

As the jury read its verdict, Brand rested his head in relief on the table in front of him.

"I'm feeling relieved and vindicated," said Brand outside the courtroom. "It's been hell, it's been almost five years since this started."

Brand who represented himself at the trial was arrested in 2012 and charged withbreach of trust and unauthorized use of a computerafter a police investigation into suspicious activity that took place between March 2010 and August 2011.

• 'I am not guilty': Calgary officer urges jury to acquit him of corruption charges

At the centre of this case is cash loan business Manila Capital, which was trying to track down missing debtors during the time in question.

Evidence at trial includedan invoice from Brand for $2,300 to Manila Capital.

At the time of his arrest, the 21-year veteran of the Calgary Police Service was already on medical leave from the service because he suffers fromPTSD.

The 50-year-old says he has no intention of ever returning to the Calgary Police Service.

"I've never been going back to policing," said Brand. "I left policing in 2011 off sick, on PTSD but I was never going back."

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Glen Poelman presided over the three-week jury trial.

Poelman thanked jurors for their service after the verdict was read.

Crown prosecutor Leah Boyd was brought in from Edmonton to avoid any conflict because of Brand's position as a Calgary police officer.