Suspicions Australian judge allegedly linked to Italian mafia

An Australian judge has been identified as a suspected mafia mole, with their alleged links uncovered during an investigation into the ‘Ndrangheta’s reach.

Exclusive: An Australian judge has been identified as a suspected mafia mole, with their alleged links uncovered during an investigation into the ‘Ndrangheta’s reach in society and public office.

The judge is the second high-ranking law enforcement official to be suspected in rececnt months.

For legal reasons their identity and details of the investigation by federal authorities cannot be revealed, but it is understood several cases the judicial figure has presided over going back years are now broadly being looked at.

It is understood the investigation is continuing with more than one law enforcement agency involved.

The stunning development follows revelations by News Corp Australia in July of a probe into one of Australia’s top law enforcers who is also currently under investigation amid suspicions he was allegedly secretly working with aafia figures for more than three decades.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Crime Nigel Ryan leading the charge to smash Italian mafia tentacles in Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

There is no connection between the two suspects but it can now also be revealed the senior law enforcer has left their job and is now working for another government agency with access to even broader sensitive information.

He walked into that new top-level government position with the help of associates that had formerly been working for law enforcement.

Telephone messaging tracked by authorities is helping police identify senior mafia suspects and associates. Picture: Joel Carrett

their new position has raised security concerns about the information he may have access to and its value to crime groups like the mafia.

As a law enforcer their involvement in cases dates all the way back to when he worked closely with the AFP team investigating the 1989 assassination of AFP Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester in which several mafia suspects were initially identified but rapidly discounted.

Of the identifying of the judge as a mafia-linked suspect, the Australian Federal Police was brief in its response to questions.

“The AFP has no comment,” a spokesperson said.

Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester was shot twice in the head as he got out of his car. Picture: ABC News

Other authorities understood to be aware of both the law enforcer and judicial figure have declined to comment citing confidential and legal provisions.

Just how broad and far back the infiltration of mafia deep into all sections of society including law enforcement, politics and the logistics and transport industry is still being unravelled by the AFP.

The AFP first announced it would conduct a probe into the ‘Ndrangheta in 2018 after revelations from Italian police the crime syndicate were dispatching members to Australia to control drugs distribution and connect with local affiliates and political and other public identities perceived as useful to their criminal enterprise.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan in June declared the AFP will focus on targeting Italian organised crime, prompted by invaluable intelligence obtained on the AN0M platform and Operation Ironside. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

In June this year the AFP declared it had identified 14 ‘Ndrangheta clans across Australia “involving thousands of members”.

“Our picture of the clans is continuing to grow, but intelligence suggests their overall membership could potentially be similar to that of patched members in Australian outlaw motorcycle gangs,” AFP Assistant Commissioner Crime Command Nigel Ryan said.
“That shows how subterranean and significant the ‘Ndrangheta are in Australia.”

He said their dismantling would be “long and challenging”.

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