Decorated gangland cop Stuart Bateson denies he told female cop about IBAC investigation
A decorated gangland cop who inspired a hit TV show denies he leaked secret information about a secret corruption probe to a junior female cop.
Police & Courts
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A top Victorian Police officer allegedly leaked secret information about an anti-corruption investigation to a junior female cop, a court has heard.
Former gangland Detective Commander Stuart Bateson is accused of disclosing confidential information about the probe on three separate occasions in 2018 to a female officer with whom he was close.
Commander Bateson denied the leak at a contested hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday, almost three years after he was first charged.
Prosecutors allege Bateson told the junior officer he had been summoned to give evidence at an independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission examination which was investigating allegations of “improper influence” in Victoria Police’s task force Salus.
Task-force Salus investigates sexual predatory behaviour and serious sexual harassment and discrimination allegations within the force.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said Bateson first revealed he had been called to give evidence in August 2018.
“He said we need to talk,” the witness, known only as PD, said during her evidence.
“He said he was not allowed to talk about it, he said if he spoke about the investigation he would go to jail,” she said.
The woman said Bateson appeared “nervous and fidgety” and was “acting strangely” during the conversation.
“When he said he couldn’t talk about it I said, you can either talk about it or you can’t, but you’re talking in riddles,” she said.
He later allegedly remarked: “I haven’t spoken about this, have I?” PD told the court.
In September, the officers met up again and Bateson allegedly showed the woman a news article about the IBAC probe into an inappropriate relationship between an unnamed senior police member and their junior.
PD told the court Bateson revealed the names of the officers allegedly involved in the investigation.
In October Bateson is accused of again sharing information about the private IBAC hearing.
The court heard the Australian Police Medallist had been twice served with confidentiality notices regarding his evidence to the anti-corruption watchdog.
“When the (IBAC) hearing took place he acknowledged he had been served with the confidentiality notice and that he understood it,” prosecutor Sarah Thomas said.
Barrister Patrick Dempsey, for Bateson, said his client denies “any criminality” or that there was disclosure of confidential matters to the woman.
Mr Dempsey said the contested hearing, which is expected to run for up to five days, would be defended on the grounds of a factual dispute.
Bateson has been suspended with pay since he was charged with three counts of disclosing a restricted matter by IBAC investigators in June 2019.
The hearing before Magistrate Simon Zebrowksi continues.
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