AFP officers dubbed ‘Sydney mafia’ may face corruption charges
A number of AFP officers may face charges of abuse of office as others have been charged with DUI, domestic violence and child exploitation offences.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A group of Australian Federal Police officers dubbed the “Sydney mafia” for allegedly misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars’ of taxpayers’ money and goods, may face charges with evidence referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
The CDPP will assess a two-year-investigation by the law enforcement watchdog, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI), and decide the fate of three officers.
Two AFP officers were sacked, and another two resigned, during the investigation, named Operation Nambung.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw issued a Section 40K declaration for serious misconduct and corruption against one of the officers who was sacked.
An AFP spokesman said ACLEI has provided three briefs of evidence relating to three AFP officers for consideration of charges including abuse of office and multiple counts of obtaining property by deception.
“The CDPP is yet to provide formal advice to the AFP on these matters,” said the spokesman.
At the centre of the scandal was a bold scam allegedly siphoning off AFP assets and credit cards as well as Australian Defence Force-funded assets for personal use including a series of vehicles, the latest a 4WD Pajero worth more than $50,000.
The investigation was sparked by a tip off and led to raids on the homes and offices of four Protective Service Officers.
It is the most serious fraud and corruption investigation into the AFP since the secretive Harrison inquiry in the 1990s which led to the sacking of seven AFP officers.
AFP sources have revealed to News Corp, they were warned not to talk about the investigation “in case it sparks a royal commission” into the wider activities of AFP protective service officers.
The Operation Nambung allegations include using unlimited petrol for personal use, as well as allegedly misappropriating office equipment and furniture, travel rorts; falsifying AFP records and time sheets; misappropriating AFP property; and major credit card fraud.
In the past two years there have been 17 AFP employees charged with offences. It does not include the potential charges under Operation Nambung or charges which were laid and later within which the decision to lay charges.
Those charges range from high range drink driving to domestic violence assaults charges, sexual offences, speeding in an unregistered vehicle and child exploitation offences.
The AFP spokesman said as “most” the charges were laid by State and territory police the AFP is unable to report at this time how many resulted in a conviction.
More Coverage
Originally published as AFP officers dubbed ‘Sydney mafia’ may face corruption charges
Fed govt threatens social media giants with $50m fines
The Albanese government will introduce tough new laws to ban kids under 16 from social media platforms and companies found breaching the laws face massive fines.
UK’s move to follow Australia’s social media bans
The British government is taking action that will likely see it follow in the footsteps of Anthony Albanese and implement social media age bans for children aged under 16.