Ron Iddles receives complaint over probe into cop killer’s conviction
THE Premier’s crime watchdog, Ron Iddles, says he is “astounded” at Victoria Police for pursuing a secret investigation into him following a complaint.
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THE Premier’s crime watchdog, Ron Iddles, says he is “astounded” at Victoria Police for pursuing a secret investigation into him.
The dramatic split centres on his bombshell report questioning double cop killer Jason Roberts’s conviction.
The decorated former homicide detective said on Thursday night he was “disappointed” by a police move to probe his handling of the controversial review of Roberts’s conviction for the 1998 murders of officers Gary Silk and Rodney Miller.
“I think it’s come up because I stand alone against many members of the police force,” he said.
“I could have gone against my own integrity and said there’s nothing to see here. But I did my job to the best of my ability and came up with my findings,” Mr Iddles said.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton revealed on Thursday that an internal investigation had begun over Mr Iddles’s 2013 review, following a complaint. Describing the complaint as a serious matter, he said it related to “the manner in which the investigation was conducted”.
But Mr Iddles, who earlier this year was appointed Victoria’s first community safety watchdog, asked: “Why has this come up now?
“I’ve done nothing wrong. Whatever the outcome is (of the internal probe), I’m always available to give evidence at a hearing.”
Mr Iddles’s review caused significant angst among police after it concluded that on the “balance of probability’’, Roberts had not been at the scene in Moorabbin where Sergeant Silk and Senior Constable Miller were gunned down.
In July, the Herald Sun revealed Mr Iddles had backed a petition for mercy by Roberts and that early this year David Grace, QC — asked by the government for independent advice — had recommended the case go back to court.
But Attorney-General Martin Pakula decided against this.
It is understood the internal complaint against Mr Iddles could relate to his review, Operation Rainmaker, being directly handed to the Office of Public Prosecutions rather than to police command.
The report was then given to Roberts’ lawyer, prompting the petition.
Mr Iddles said on Thursday the report had gone to the OPP with the knowledge of his superiors, including then homicide squad inspector John Potter. “It was recorded on the case management system for all senior officers to review.”
The former Police Association secretary also complained he had not been made aware of any complaint until “the Chief Commissioner announced it on radio” on Thursday.
He stressed he had been just one of a team of eight detectives assigned by force command to Operation Rainmaker after concerns were raised over Roberts’ conviction.
Earlier this month, after a motion in parliament demanding that all advice Mr Pakula relied on in denying Roberts’ petition be made public, Mr Pakula released fewer than a quarter of the 54 documents.
Mr Pakula acknowledged the Department of Justice and Regulation had initially said it would be appropriate for him to refer Roberts’ case back to court, but he decided to ask for a last-minute submission from Mr Ashton, which had not until then been sought.
“On the basis of all the advice and information, including the additional material I had asked for, DJR recommended against referring Mr Roberts’ case to the Court of Appeal,” Mr Pakula said.
No doubt has been cast on the guilt of Roberts’ co-accused, Bandali Debs.