Alleged NT Police leaker, officer Jeannie Secrett calls for case to be thrown out

An NT Police officer who faced ‘horrific’ disasters over her two decade service has called for prosecutors to drop charges against her.

A cloud of secrecy hangs over the case against a NT Police officer who allegedly leaked confidential information, a court has heard.

Jeannie Unju Secrett, 50, was charged with disclosure of confidential information in July.

The senior officer, who has been with the NT Police force for two decades, was suspended from her duties with pay.

If found guilty, Secrett could face a maximum penalty of three years in prison.

However, on Monday barrister Peter Maley has called for the Darwin Local Court case against Secrett to be thrown out.

“I’m urging the crown to consider withdrawing the charge,” Ms Maley said.

Mr Maley said there was a statutory defence to the disclosure of confidential information charge, which he had outlined in a two-page letter to the Director of Public Prosecution in September.

“(It) disclosed a complete defence to the charges, and asked them to make a decision by today,” he said.

“I’ve had no response whatsoever.”

Mr Maley told the court it was not clear who was prosecuting the case against Secrett, or what evidence there was that she leaked confidential information.

“My learned prosecutor has told me that the prosecution do not have access to the file because of the nature of it,” he said.

“I don’t know who is prosecuting it, and someone from the DDP simply does not have access to the briefs.”

Over her two decades with the force, Secrett has been awarded the Police Service Medal and certificates of appreciation.

In 2011 she was part of a specialist team sent in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake, which killed 185 people.

Then-Senior Constable Secrett was one of four officers sent to New Zealand to help identify the dead.

At the time, NT Police Minister Paul Henderson said their task was one of “horrific proportion”, but was necessary to give grieving families the closure they needed.

Secrett was given a certificate of appreciation for her 10-day stint in the disaster response.

The NTPFES annual report 2010-2011 said Secrett was granted a Police Service Medal in 2011, recognising at least 10 years of service.

Chief Justice Elizabeth Morris adjourned the matter to November 21 to allow the prosecution to consider Mr Maley’s calls to withdraw the case.

Secrett was also excused from attending the case management inquiry.