Senior Victorian constable arrested over alleged ‘falsification’ of DNA case summary

There are concerns a number of Victoria Police drug investigations could be compromised after an officer was arrested over falsifying DNA report.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA- NewsWire Photos June 25 2022, Generic View of Police line tape at a crime scene., Picture: NCA NewsWire /Brendan Beckett

At least two major drug squad cases may be compromised after a Victoria Police officer involved in them was arrested for allegedly falsifying a DNA case results summary in another matter.

That matter, involving Senior Constable Jye Symes, was dropped at court two weeks ago after he was arrested and interviewed on March 29 by professional standards command. According to a letter sent by the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions to lawyers involved in an upcoming case, he was stood down with pay and “may yet be charged”.

“Victoria Police’s Professional Standards Command arrested and interviewed Senior Constable Symes on 29 March 2023,” the letter reads.

“That investigation related to the alleged falsification of a DNA case results summary, purportedly dated 10 September 2021, included in the brief in an unrelated prosecution where he was the informant.

“As a consequence of this matter being disclosed to the OPP, all charges against... were withdrawn at committal on 29 March 2023.”

In court, the “informant” is the lead police investigator in a case.

As well, The Australian has learned lawyers have been alerted the senior constable was involved in at least two additional cases due for hearings this week in court.

He was listed as a police witness for one case concerning a drug trafficking ring, which is due for a committal hearing on Wednesday morning.

Constable Symes was also listed as the informant for another major drug squad case on Wednesday, but the magistrates court listing was removed on Sunday afternoon. A source with knowledge of the matter said any case the senior constable had been involved in could be compromised and a decision to drop them could come down to what exhibits he had handled.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said a detective leading senior constable from crime command was arrested on March 29 “as part of a professional standards command investigation”.

“The officer is currently suspended with pay,” she said in a statement.

“As the investigation remains ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

She said charges in relation to a 2019 investigation into alleged drug trafficking were withdrawn.

“We will work with the OPP to look at the impact of the current PSC matter on this investigation or any other investigations,” she said.

The state’s police force has previously been accused of misconduct, including the Lawyer X saga in which Nicola Gobbo – a lawyer turned snitch – informed on her notorious underworld clients to police while acting for them at the same time.

Nicola Gobbo, who has been revealed as Lawyer X. Picture: ABC News

As a result of Ms Gobbo’s hand in his legal dealings, jailed drug kingpin Tony Mokbel successfully appealed his 2006 conviction for cocaine importation after it was quashed in 2020.

In March this year, his jail term was reduced from 30 years to 26-years with a non-parole period of 20 years.

Last year, Jason Roberts – jailed for more than two decades over helping Bandali Debs murder Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller in 1998 – was freed from prison after a Supreme Court jury found he had been wrongly convicted.

In 2020, the Court of Appeal ruled police misconduct undermined Mr Roberts’ 2002 trial after a Victorian anti-corruption commission investigation identified “improper practices by police officers” concerning witness statements.

The investigation found officers were asked to change Constable Miller’s dying declarations so they did not include his descriptions of the offenders.

It also found an officer omitted information in his statement on Constable Miller’s dying declarations, namely that there were two offenders.