Police supplied 'bogus intelligence'

A FORMER Sydney lawyer wants a high-level probe into his claims that Australian Federal Police officers gave bogus intelligence to Vanuatu authorities and falsely asserted he was an international narcotics trafficker.

A FORMER Sydney lawyer wants a high-level probe into his claims that Australian Federal Police officers gave bogus intelligence to Vanuatu authorities and falsely asserted he was an international narcotics trafficker.

Andrew Tatar, one of the crew accused of smuggling international conman Peter Foster from Fiji to Vanuatu in January, is starting legal action against the AFP, having returned to Sydney with all charges dropped. He is relying on documents, including a Vanuatu Customs affidavit and an AFP "highly protected" intelligence report, to show that AFP officers in Vanuatu made serious, baseless claims to heads of the criminal justice system in Port Vila.

Mr Tatar accused the AFP of "cobbling together" false statements to try to persuade Vanuatu authorities, who relied on the AFP's guidance and tactical support, to prosecute him.

He said the AFP's conduct needed investigation because it could have severely compromised his future and freedom.

The intelligence report, sent to The Australian after a bungle between the AFP and Vanuatu police resulted in it appearing in a court file in the capital Port Vila, states: "Tatar came to (the) notice (of) the AFP during Operation Erudite in relation to a suspected attempt to import cocaine into North Queensland during December, 1997. More recently, in 2003 (Australian Customs) has collected intelligence indicating his ongoing involvement in narcotics.

"Tatar is recorded in PROMIS to be an associate of Foster."

The affidavit by the acting director of Vanuatu Customs, John Sala, refers to: "Andrew Tatar, an Australian citizen (who) is also having (a) record of narcotic trafficking as recorded by the AFP. He is an associate of an international fraudster, Mr Peter Clarence Foster."

Mr Tatar, who practised as a solicitor in Sydney until he was struck off for defrauding a client, said the AFP report was false and malicious. He said the AFP knew its intelligence was wrong but had not attempted to set the record straight. However, a senior AFP officer had contacted him to attempt to mediate an agreement.

"I understand an internal investigation is under way to determine the sources of information relied upon and why the intelligence report was produced in the first place," he said yesterday. "At no time have I had either the ability or the inclination to have anything to do with international narcotics trafficking."

The AFP has blamed Vanuatu authorities for the public disclosure of the intelligence report, which names about a dozen suspects -- all of whom have now read the confidential document.

An AFP spokesman confirmed yesterday that a Honiara-based officer was investigating and "the process is ongoing". He said the AFP produced a report with untested information, which was mistakenly released to Mr Tatar's legal team after it had been provided to Vanuatu police.

"At no stage has the AFP claimed that this information could be classed as evidence to be put before a court," he said.

Mr Tatar said he would start court action "should the AFP and the commonwealth not make a public apology, disclose the sources of their information, if any, and pay compensation".