Victoria Police top cop Stuart Bateson has charges relating to leaking secret information withdrawn
A senior Victorian police officer who was the basis for a hero character on the TV show Underbelly has had a huge win in court.
A top cop who was once portrayed as a hero in the TV hit Underbelly has had three corruption-related charges withdrawn.
Victoria Police Commander Stuart Bateson, 52, who once busted notorious underworld figures in Melbourne, was found guilty of leaking confidential information about a secretive anti-corruption investigation.
He faced three charges of disclosing restricted matters but those charges were withdrawn in Victoria’s County Court on Monday, where Mr Bateson appeared via videolink.
In 2018 Mr Bateson was called to give evidence at a hearing examining suggestions of sexual misconduct within the force and was served with confidentiality notices, requiring him to keep the details a secret.
Police alleged Mr Bateson told the police officer what Victoria’s anti-corruption commision, IBAC, was investigating despite the fact it was secret, as well as sharing evidence used in the investigation and the fact he had given evidence, magistrate Simon Zebrowski found.
Magistrate Zebrowski said Bateson had gone to the junior police officer’s house four days after giving evidence and shared details about the secret probe.
IBAC was probing allegations of improper influence into an investigation by Taskforce Salus, which examines harassment and predatory behaviour within Victoria Police.
Mr Bateson argued that the junior officer got the information for other sources.
He escaped conviction and was fined $6000. But those charges have now been withdrawn.
Bateson has held several high-profile positions within Victoria Police including heading up a taskforce designed to bust gangland figures.
He was the inspiration for a lead character, played by Roger Corser, in the television series Underbelly.