ICAC staffer, Kate Tayla Johnson, to plead guilty after being charged with leaking secrets

A staffer in the office of the NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption has faced court for the first time accused of leaking information in breach of the ICAC Act.

A STAFFER in the office of the NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption has faced court for the first time accused of leaking information in breach of the ICAC Act.

Kate Tayla Johnson, 23, faced the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday charged with disclosing confidential information and disclosing information “obtained in the course of performing a function”.

In seeking an adjournment until next month her lawyer, Julie Franz, said Johnson would be pleading guilty “to an appropriate charge”.

“I’d like to indicate on her behalf that it will be a plea to an appropriate charge, I have yet to ascertain what that charge is,” she said.

“I’ve just received the brief today, your honour, so I’d like to read it and give advice to Ms Johnson, but we do want to get the full benefit of an early plea indicated.”

NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption staffer Kate Tayla Johnson.

Meanwhile, 50-year-old police officer, Jeannie Unju Secrett, was also due to face the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, charged with disclosing confidential information.

Secrett was not present in court but her lawyer, Peter Maley, successfully applied for the case to be adjourned into the directions hearing list, which typically suggests a defendant intends to fight the charge.

Johnson will return to court on August 2 while Secrett will again face court on September 9.