Northern Territory police in crisis as commissioner resigns and a senior officer is suspended

ACTING Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has made changes to the force’s senior executive team as the John McRoberts’ saga widens to include the suspension of another senior officer.

John McRoberts

ACTING Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has made changes to the force’s senior executive team as the John McRoberts’ saga widens to include the suspension of another senior officer.

The officer is Commander Richard Bryson, whose role in the saga remains unclear.

Mr Bryson heads the Crime and Specialist Support Command.

Acting Commissioner Reece Kershaw confirmed the action late Thursday afternoon.

Acting Commissioner Reece Kershaw. Picture: Michael Franchi

“I have taken this action to enable a thorough investigation into the matters that have been brought to my attention and to ensure that the integrity of the Northern Territory Police Force is maintained,” said acting Commissioner Reece Kershaw in a statement.

Mr Bryson could not be reached for comment and on Thursday was “on leave”.

Mr Kershaw spoke publicly for the first time Friday morning but could not go into details of the investigation of former commissioner McRoberts, who is alleged to have interfered with an investigation into his personal friend and Darwin socialite Xana Kamitsis.

Mr Kershaw would not say which body would investigate Mr McRoberts and said it was a question best directed at new police minister Peter Chandler.

The investigation into Mr Bryson will be conducted internally.

The NT News also understands the Australian Federal Police had been considering to carry out its own investigation into the McRoberts saga.

But on Friday morning the AFP said it was never under consideration.

Kamitsis is facing allegations she rorted as much as $100,000 from a pensioner travel scheme.

Xana Kamitsis being arrested at the premises of Altitude Travel, which she owns. Picture: NT News

READ: CRIMESTOPPERS CHAIR ARRESTED

The AFP directed questions back to NT Police. Mr Kershaw this morning announced changes to the senior executive, which include:

-Anne-Marie Murphy to Acting Assistant Commissioner Darwin Metropolitan Service (effective January 22) ;

-Michael Murphy to Acting Assistant Commissioner, Innovation and Enterprise (effective January 22);

-Peter Bravos to Acting Assistant Commissioner Crime and Specialist Services (effective January 19).

The NT News understands John McRoberts’s interference is alleged to have included him squashing a search warrant issued for the office of Kamitsis — with whom Mr McRoberts had a “relationship” — and using his authority to attempt to downgrade criminal charges to civil charges.

The police investigative team applied for and were granted a search warrant by a magistrate.

But it’s believed the formal, external investigation into Mr McRoberts will look into whether he held up the investigation into her alleged criminal conduct by not executing the warrant.

Investigators made the arrest at her office in November when he was out of town.

Police were keen to make the arrest as visible as possible and tipped off media in advance.

Police minister Peter Chandler announces the early retirement of NT Police Commissioner John McRoberts at Parliament House. Picture: Michael Franchi

It’s believed the investigation will also look into whether Mr McRoberts moved to have the charges against Kamitsis downgraded from criminal to civil after he returned to the job.

It is also believed Mr McRoberts continued his relationship with Kamitsis at this time through a series of text messages obtained by police.

“The Government has lost confidence in Mr McRoberts and his position has become untenable,” said acting Chief Minister Peter Chandler while announcing the commissioner’s resignation on Wednesday.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner John McRoberts returns to Darwin on Wednesday evening after having resigned. Picture: Aaron Burton

Mr Chandler maintains he first heard of the allegations last Friday night. A spokesman for Chief Minister Adam Giles echoed the comments.

The Labor Party refused to comment on the scandal yesterday.

Mr McRoberts told the NT News Wednesday night that he denied any wrongdoing.

“I don’t accept that I have a conflict of interest at all,” he said. “(Police) ought not be distracted in that important work from a sideshow involving the commissioner ...”