The Snitch: What police found in bikie associate police raid
IN true Strike Force Raptor style, police officers raided the home of an alleged bikie associate who had been picked up by a strike force investigating gun running and gangland murders. But what they found was not what they expected, The Snitch reveals.
NSW
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THE Sunday Telegraph has launched a new law and order column called The Snitch.
Crime reporter Ava Benny-Morrison and court reporter Brenden Hills will reveal all the hot gossip from cops and the legal fraternity from the top end of town.
IT’S A RAID
HE was picked up by a strike force investigating gun running, gangland murders and drug trafficking.
But all police found at Mustafa Shekeb’s Merrylands home on Thursday was a bottle of unscripted acne treatment pills.
Nevertheless and in true Strike Force Raptor style (making life difficult for criminals at every turn), officers found a charge suitable for the alleged bike associate — possessing prescribed restricted substance.
The 27-year-old was also charged with pervert the course of justice for allegedly lying on a character reference for an associate.
Shekeb’s house was raided as part of Strike Force Ayle, an organised crime investigation that has charged the alleged killers of gangster Pasquale Barbaro and bikie Michael Davey.
POLICE BOSS SUSPENDED
AN investigation delving into allegations of intimidation, bullying and inappropriate relationships at a country police station has claimed its first scalp.
Detective Superintendent Michael Rowan was suspended from the force on Monday, months after the Professional Standards Command began a probe that has rocked the Murrumbidgee Police Area District.
The investigation has been looking into the nature of Supt Rowan’s relationships with staff, including local area manager Brenda Steadman, and allegations of preferential treatment.
One complaint alleged undue influence was placed on junior officers who responded to a domestic incident involving a female police officer and her de facto partner last year.
The complaint raised eyebrows because the female officer was a friend of Supt Rowan, PSC has been told.
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Supt Rowan has been the boss at Murrumbidgee for several years and overseen high-profile investigations including the murder of Stephanie Scott and the disappearance of anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay.
“NSW Police can confirm a senior officer attached to Murrumbidgee Police District has been suspended pending further inquiries,” a spokeswoman said.
Earlier this year, Superintendent Rowan relocated to the Hume Police District to fill in for another commander while the investigation was underway.
YES, NEW MINISTER
WITH the end of Police Minister Troy Grant’s tenure approaching, bets are in for who will nab his sought after portfolio.
His replacement has been a hot topic of conversation among senior police with the short-priced favourite being Corrective Services and Counter-Terrorism Minister David Elliott.
Elliot, the son-in-law of a retired Chief Superintendent, regularly deals with the top brass as part of his current duties so the police portfolio wouldn’t be uncharted territory.
The Snitch understands Mr Elliot made it clear at the last cabinet reshuffle two years ago he wanted to keep the correctives portfolio.
Another contender police have suggested is Planning Minister Anthony Roberts, who has former police officers in his staff.
However, Mr Roberts hasn’t given any indications to those closest to him that he is eyeing off a jump from planning to law enforcement.
If Labor wins at the polls next year, it will likely be Shadow Police Minister Guy Zangari in the chair.
PLASTIC NOT SO FANTASTIC
A palm-sized drone that had tongues wagging at the Downing Centre probably made it through court security because it was plastic.
As revealed in The Snitch, someone managed to fly the tiny drone inside a courtroom on level 18 of the John Maddison Tower in July.
Andrew Cappie-Wood, director general of the NSW Attorney-General’s Department, told budget estimates the gadget was mostly plastic and suggested it might not have showed up on metal detectors.
“I understand it was displayed as ‘wow look at the toy that I have’ approach rather than necessarily being secreted as some fort of object of intent,” he said on Tuesday.