AFP officer William Wheatley facing corruption charges

A major operation that has sent shockwaves through the Australian Federal Police has led to an officer being charged with corruption, theft and money-laundering.

AFP officers were briefed on the arrest on Thursday.

An Australian Federal Police officer based in Melbourne has been charged over high-level

corruption offences.

The member, William Wheatley, was arrested in Melbourne on Tuesday after a major operation by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.

ACLEI said he had been charged with alleged corruption, theft and money-laundering.

Court records show one of those charges relates to allegations of using information to dishonestly obtain benefit.

Mr Wheatley will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a committal mention hearing on March 28 next year.

An Australian Federal Police officer in Melbourne is facing high-level corruption charges.

After being charged, he was suspended without pay.

Investigators from the AFP, Victoria Police and Austrac, the body responsible for dealing with criminal abuse of the financial system, assisted with the investigation.

Austrac has a key role in monitoring suspicious cash transactions and transfers suspected of being linked to organised crime.

The arrest has sent shockwaves through the AFP.

Its Melbourne officers were brought together on Thursday and briefed on what had happened earlier this week.

ACLEI is a federal body which specifically works to prevent corruption in Commonwealth law enforcement agencies.

“Our purpose is to make it more difficult for corruption to occur or remain undetected,” its website says.