Dirty cop David Miechel pleads for release but won’t divulge details of crime
CORRUPT former drug squad detective David Miechel will this month begin pleading his case to be released from jail, despite refusing to reveal who helped him “rip off” a Tony Mokbel drug house.
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CORRUPT former drug squad detective David Miechel will this month begin pleading his case to be released from jail, despite refusing to reveal who helped him “rip off” a Tony Mokbel drug house.
The disgraced cop — who has served the longest prison stretch of any police officer in Victoria — could also walk out to a fortune in drug cash.
Miechel, who was mauled by a police dog while attempting to escape the crime scene, has served his minimum 12-year jail term for the botched burglary of the East Oakleigh drug house.
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Miechel was charged along with his boss, Paul Dale, and their registered police informer, Terence Hodson, over the crime, but was the only one convicted.
Charges against Mr Dale collapsed with the murder of Hodson and his wife, Christine, eight months after the audacious burglary was carried out hours after the Brisbane-Collingwood Grand Final on September 27, 2003.
And Miechel, an initial suspect over the murders, has rejected repeated approaches by investigators to divulge information over the burglary or the murders.
Instead, he has maintained his innocence.
Asked about his bid for freedom, the Adult Parole Board this week said the Corrections Act 1986 prevented it from providing any confidential or personal information about a prisoner.
Investigators have long suspected a large pot of money combined with fear has prevented Miechel from implicating others, including Mr Dale.
Between October and December 2003, Hodson had made statements to police that he had been recruited by Mr Dale and Miechel to steal drugs and cash from the “drug-house’’.
The property was under police surveillance by the major drug investigations division, with Mr Dale and Miechel controlling the operation.
The sting was codenamed Operation Galop.
But after several unsuccessful attempts that month, Miechel and Hodson bungled the burglary, breaking a porch light, which triggered the neighbours to contact police.
Although he had fled the house with Hodson, Miechel was returning to collect the loot when police swooped.
Apart from being caught near the scene, Miechel’s DNA was found on bags containing drugs worth $1.3 million which were thrown over a back fence.
But a stash of about $700,000 was suspected to have never been found.
Hodson, who was intercepted on school grounds nearby, came under pressure from ethical standards police to implicate the officers involved. He told his family and his lawyers he feared being “knocked” by the sniper-trained Miechel and the ambitious Mr Dale.
Hodson alleged that he, Miechel and Mr Dale had made multiple attempts to burgle the property before the night of his and Miechel’s capture.
He claimed after he arrived late at one attempt, Mr Dale became agitated about having difficulty with his alibi.
On the night of the burglary Hodson alleged he was told Mr Dale would not be coming and there was an argument with Miechel about whether Mr Dale should be given his share.
Hodson, however, would become the victim of police leaks and lax security as it became known he had named his co-offenders.
On May 16, 2004, Terence and Christine Hodson’s bodies were discovered by two of their children, Andrew and Mandy. The Hodsons’ children are now suing Victoria Police, claiming negligence and saying they have sustained psychological injuries.
Although Hodson’s murder would result in burglary charges being dropped against Mr Dale, it did not collapse the case against Miechel.
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