SAINT JOHN, N.B. -- Saint John's deputy police chief is under criminal investigation for alleged wrongdoing during the probe of millionaire businessman Richard Oland's murder.

Halifax Regional Police are investigating Glen McCloskey at the request of Saint John Police Chief John Bates.

"The investigation into this matter, which is being conducted by investigators in the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division, is ongoing," Const. Dianne Woodworth of Halifax police said Wednesday. "Our investigators did travel to Saint John as part of their investigation."

During last year's trial of Dennis Oland for his father's murder, one witness testified that McCloskey, then an inspector, asked him not to testify that McCloskey had been in the crime scene.

McCloskey himself denied the allegation when he took the stand.

Evidence presented during the trial suggested a number of problems with the investigation, including a failure to properly secure the crime scene, prompting the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners to ask the provincial police commission to conduct an inquiry.

Although Woodworth would not confirm on Wednesday "the name of the subject or subjects of the investigation," Bates told the Telegraph-Journal Tuesday he asked Halifax police to investigate the allegations involving McCloskey.

"These are very serious allegations that were levelled against the deputy, and I think we owe it to him to have a thorough review and investigation into the matter," Bates told the Saint John-based newspaper.

The Oland family operates Moosehead Breweries -- the oldest independently owned brewery in Canada -- although Richard Oland left Moosehead in 1981.

Oland's body was discovered face down in a pool of blood in his Saint John office on July 7, 2011. He had suffered 45 blunt and sharp force blows to his head, neck and hands.

Dennis Oland was convicted of second-degree murder in December and has begun serving a life sentence with no chance of parole for 10 years.

The appeal of his conviction is set to begin Oct. 18.

- by Rob Roberts in Halifax