Lawyer X case costs cops $7.6m
Victoria Police have secured $7.6 million to cover the huge costs being incurred over the “Lawyer X” royal commission.
Victoria Police have secured $7.6m to cover the huge costs being incurred over the “Lawyer X” royal commission.
Financial statements contained in its annual report shows that by June 30, $7.593m was listed as income from insurance last financial year.
“This balance represents a partial reimbursement of costs of the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants,” said the report, released last month.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said police were “fully committed” to supporting the commission and other inquiries.
“Through our involvement we will ensure Victoria Police positively influences the future of important public safety issues such as Victoria’s mental health system, Australia’s aged-care services, and the management of police informants, while ensuring we continue to serve the community,” Mr Ashton said.
Victoria Police had more than 100 staff working on the commission-dedicated Landow taskforce.
It emerged in August that nearly $11m has been spent on the taskforce since it was formed last December and Mr Ashton has said the work has cost up to $1.5m a month.
Royal Commissioner Margaret McMurdo has previously expressed frustration at the time police have taken to hand over documents to the commission and has threatened legal action as a consequence of the delays. Police have said there has been no attempt to frustrate the commission, which is expected to run into next year and is due to deliver its findings next July.
The royal commission was set up following a High Court judgment last year that found Victoria Police engaged in “reprehensible” conduct by “knowingly encouraging” underworld barrister turned registered police informer Nicola Gobbo to provide information against the interests of her clients.
Since that decision, one person, Faruk Orman, has had his conviction discharged.
Orman was jailed for the 2002 murder of underworld figure Victor Peirce, but had his conviction quashed this year after it emerged that Ms Gobbo, his lawyer, was a police informer who had urged witnesses to give evidence against him.
Others, including Melbourne drug kingpin Tony Mokbel, are also looking at trying to have their convictions quashed.
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