Ex-cop Paul Dale could be jailed over allegedly breaching a suppression order in book
He was once charged over the murder of police informant Terrence Hodson, but now disgraced ex-drug detective Paul Dale could face a new battle with the law.
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Disgraced former cop Paul Dale could be jailed for up to five years after possibly breaching a suppression order in his new book.
Dale, who was once charged over the murder of police informant Terrence Hodson, has published the name of an underworld figure whose identity is suppressed by the Supreme Court of Victoria in his new book, Cops, Drugs, Lawyer X and Me.
If Dale, or publisher Hachette Australia, is found to have breached the suppression order, they could face prosecution for contempt of court offences. The maximum sentence is five years’ jail.
The order bans all media outlets from naming the suppressed figure.
The identity of the man, an underworld figure, has been banned from being published or broadcast for more than a decade.
Victoria Police contacted the publisher last week about the alleged breach in the book after Cops, Drugs, Lawyer X and Me hit the stands.
A Victoria Police spokesman told the Sunday Herald Sun in a statement: “We are aware of the book. Victoria Police has not taken any court action’’.
It is understood Victoria Police remains concerned about the potential breach and will seek further legal advice.
The book reconstructs Dale’s interactions with Lawyer X, Nicola Gobbo, a lawyer with whom he socialised and slept with, while also asking her for legal advice.
Dale maintains Gobbo was acting as his lawyer in the period he came under pressure over suspicions he was involved in ripping off a drug house linked to the Mokbel crime syndicate and also killing his informer Hodson.
Former drug squad cop Dale was accused of masterminding a burglary of a drug house in Oakleigh in 2003 with a detective in his crew, David Miechel. Miechel was arrested near the crime scene along with Hodson.
Hodson “rolled” on Miechel and also told police that Dale, who was at home when the burglary took place, was in on the job.
Hodson was found dead alongside his wife, Christine, eight months later.
The burglary charges against Dale were dropped after Hodson’s death, but he became a suspect in the killing.
Dale had no comment to make. The book’s publisher, Hachette, was contacted for comment.