AFP took more than a year to discover credit card fraud by Kevin Rudd bodyguard
The misuse of a Commonwealth credit card by a former AFP officer was only uncovered more than a year after the damage was done, it’s been revealed.
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Exclusive: The Australian Federal Police took more than a year to realise the Commissioner’s right hand man had stolen more than $45,000 using his police issued credit card.
But then eight months after The ACT Magistrates Court ordered the money be repaid, the AFP could not even work out if that been done.
AFP sources have criticised the organisation over the case of Gary Fahey, a body guard for former prime minister Kevin Rudd saying it should have raised red flags for a range of issues including potential security implications.
And it can be revealed that “misuse of AFP credit card was one of the biggest breaches of the code of conduct by officers, with 21 cases in the 2017/2018 financial year”.
The AFP said it has now tightened access to cash through its police credit cards.
However, there has been no comment about welfare issues regarding officers self disclosing issues such as gambling addictions.
Fahey had an out of control gambling addiction while he was working for the AFP gambling away more than $1 million in just eight years.
Despite revealing his addiction to the AFP numerous times during updates to keep his top secret security clearances and seeking help from the AFP counselling service before his offending, he was never offered any help, monitoring or other treatment from the organisation.
Nor was his potential exposure to a compromised situation raised with him.
Law enforcement experts have warned Fahey’s disclosure should have triggered a response at least about his welfare, let alone the potential for security breaches at the organisation.
But Freedom of Information requests show the AFP never discussed the issue apart from an “unofficial” email to another former AFP member about the situation.
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AFP sources say the details of Fahey’s case, which comes to light after a string of five suicides in two years of AFP officers, highlights the lack of welfare support for officers struggling in the job.
Fahey was in one of the most demanding roles in the AFP.
He was on call 24/7, working long hours and travelling constantly with the AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin.
Fahey is now working to raise awareness about the effects of depression and gambling addiction warning anyone including well-educated professionals like himself can be affected.
He told News Corp Australia by sharing his experiences he hopes to help others facing similar battles.