Police hunt for secret phones, SIMs in raid on Darren Weir’s property
Suspects in the Darren Weir racing corruption probe could have used a secret communications network to avoid scrutiny, with police raiding the disgraced trainer’s property for burner phones and secret SIM cards.
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Police are investigating whether suspects in the Darren Weir racing corruption probe used a secret communications network to avoid scrutiny.
The Herald Sun can reveal a hunt for concealed phones and SIM cards was one element of a major sweep of Weir’s training complex and home near Ballarat in January.
Officers from the Sporting Integrity and Intelligence Unit used hi-tech Australian Federal Police equipment during the January 30 raid.
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It is clear investigators believe it possible suspects were using “burner” phones unknown to racing authorities.
Licensed personnel, including trainers and stablehands, must hand over their phones to Racing Victoria on request.
Victoria Police said the AFP was not involved in the Weir inquiry but its equipment allowed a faster, more thorough search.
“The search was made in an effort to locate any items of interest that could be used for evidentiary purposes, which included mobile phones and SIM cards,” a spokeswoman said.
It is not known whether any phones or SIM cards were found.
Weir was disqualified for four years by racing authorities in February after jiggers — electronic devices used to shock horses — were found in the disgraced trainer’s bedroom in January.
His stables have been sold and hundreds of horses transferred to other trainers.
Phone calls and text messages have been key elements in previous racing integrity and match-fixing investigations in recent years.
Text messages obtained from float driver Greg Nelligan’s mobile led to the disqualification of eight people in the Aquanita doping scandal.
Group 1-winning trainer Robert Smerdon, Tony Vasil, Stuart Webb and Liam Birchley are appealing against their bans.
Phone taps have also been used to uncover corruption in harness racing, leading to convictions against Larry Eastman and others.
Photos and video from hidden cameras are believed to be central to the Weir investigation.