A serving Metropolitan police officer has been charged with rape and suspended from duty, the force has said. PC Andrej Sagaidak, attached to the local policing team in south-east London and who was working in his probation period, was charged on Friday with two counts of rape, one count of non-fatal strangulation and one count of causing actual bodily harm. On Saturday, he appeared at Westminster magistrates court, where he was remanded in custody to appear at Snaresbrook crown court on 2 February. The charges relate to a report that a man had been raped by another man, the Met said in a statement. The offences are alleged to have occurred at a residential property in Islington on 1 January, while the officer was off duty. Det Ch Supt Trevor Lawry, who is responsible for policing in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham, said: “This is a deeply concerning allegation and I know it will cause significant concern. “We took immediate action when we received the report and the officer was suspended from duty following his arrest on Thursday.” He added that support is being provided to the victim and the investigation is ongoing. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has been informed.