ACT Policing detective Trent Madders, who investigated Brittany Higgins rape allegation, charged with unrelated perjury

One of the detectives who investigated Brittany Higgins’ rape claims has been suspended and charged with committing perjury in an unrelated case.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Trent Madders in 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

One of the detectives who investigated Brittany Higgins’ rape claims has been suspended and charged with committing perjury in an unrelated case.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Trent Madders was not required to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, when his matter was listed for the first time.

The ACT Policing detective has been charged with aggravated perjury, destroying or concealing evidence, and perverting the course of justice.

Madders is accused of making a false sworn statement in a legal proceeding in the ACT in August 2020, with the intention of procuring another person’s conviction or acquittal.

It is further alleged that, between June 2019 and August 2020, he concealed evidence with the intention of influencing the outcome of a legal proceeding, and, “by his conduct, intentionally perverted the course of justice”.

Trent Madders, who is yet to enter pleas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The charges relate to Madders’ alleged conduct during the case of former Australian Federal Police officer Joshua Rod Tiffen and his identical twin, electrician Kenan Lee Tiffen, who were both found guilty of three counts of capturing visual data in an indecent invasion of privacy.

Those verdicts, which were later set aside on appeal, related to allegations the 46-year-old brothers spied on women with hidden cameras. Both brothers had pleaded not guilty.

Joshua Tiffen, left, and Kenan Tiffen, centre, outside court with solicitor Tom Taylor.

Judgment is now pending in further appeals, brought by both the twins and the prosecution, in that case.

Defence lawyer Tim Sharman represented Madders on Thursday and requested a three-week adjournment, which registrar Helen Banks granted.

The case of Madders, who has previously denied wrongdoing but is yet to enter pleas, is due back in court in August.

ACT Policing is a division of the Australian Federal Police, which released a brief statement on Thursday morning.

Brittany Higgins, who alleged she was raped by fellow former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann at Parliament House. Picture: Martin Ollman/Getty Images

It said a member had been charged by AFP Professional Standards and suspended from duty.

“The AFP is committed to transparency,” the force said. “No further comment will be made.”

Bruce Lehrmann outside the Federal Court in Sydney earlier this year. Picture: Don Arnold/Getty Images)

Madders came to public prominence during the trial of former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann, who was accused of raping Ms Higgins at Parliament House when the pair were colleagues in 2019.

The detective was, at one stage, the police officer in charge of that high-profile investigation.

Videos of him interviewing Ms Higgins were played to the ACT Supreme Court during the 2022 trial of Mr Lehrmann, who pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent.

That trial was aborted due to juror misconduct, with the charge later discontinued.

Earlier this year, in a subsequent defamation case, the Federal Court found, on the balance of probabilities, that Mr Lehrmann had raped Ms Higgins.

Mr Lehrmann is now appealing against that finding.