Cops charge young ICAC staffer with breaching corruption watchdog’s own act

Police have charged a young Independent Commission Against Corruption staffer with breaching the corruption watchdog’s own act by leaking confidential information.

POLICE have charged a young Independent Commission Against Corruption staffer with breaching the corruption watchdog’s own act by leaking confidential information.

In a statement, an NT Police spokesman said the 23-year-old was issued with a notice to appear in court on July 19 following a referral from the office of ICAC Michael Riches.

The spokesman said the force’s Special References Unit seized the woman’s phone while executing a search warrant on June 3 and charged her with offences under the Criminal Code and ICAC Act.

The alleged breach of the ICAC Act relates to section 145, which provides that anyone who recklessly discloses information obtained “in the course of performing functions connected with the administration” of the act is liable for up to two years in prison if found guilty.

The other charge, of disclosing confidential information under the Criminal Code, attracts a maximum penalty of five years in jail if proven in court.

In his own statement released a short while later “in response to the NT Police media statement”, Mr Riches reiterated his earlier position that “those who work in my office must act with the utmost integrity”.

“I demand nothing less of myself and my staff,” he said.

“Anyone who cannot or will not meet that expectation has no place in my team.”

Mr Riches said “where allegations of impropriety are made about my staff or me”, they would be taken seriously.

“ It matters not to me who made the allegation or the circumstances in which the allegation is made,” he said.

“What matters to me is the integrity of this office, which must be above reproach.”

Mr Riches said he would “not comment further while judicial proceedings and disciplinary processes are on foot”.

Territory cop stood down with pay amid ‘disclosure’ investigation

A TERRITORY police officer has been suspended from duty with pay while being investigated by NT Police’s Professional Standards Command.

In a statement released on Friday, a police spokesman said the 50-year-old woman had been served with a notice to appear in court “relating to disclosure of confidential information”.

But the officer will continue to be paid while she awaits her day in court on July 19 this year.

“The matter is under investigation by Crime Command and the Professional Standards Command,” the spokesman said.

“As the matter is before the courts, no further information will be provided. This information is provided in accordance with the NT Police Transparency Guidelines.”

The spokesman later clarified the officer had been charged with two counts of disclosing confidential information which, if proven, carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Originally published as Cops charge young ICAC staffer with breaching corruption watchdog’s own act