VIC:Former cop apologises over affidavits

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2011
VIC:Former cop apologises over affidavits

The former head of Victoria's anti-gangland taskforce has told drug boss TONY MOKBEL's
change of plea hearing that he's sorry for the costs to Victorians of his officers' failure
to swear affidavits.

Former detective inspector JIM O'BRIEN, who was a police officer for more than 30 years,
admitted today there was a practice within the Victoria Police crime department of not
properly swearing affidavits.

Mr O'BRIEN, who was head of the Purana Taskforce during his final years as a policeman,
told the Victorian Supreme Court he can recall only four occasions when a Bible was brought
into his office and affidavits were properly sworn in front of him.

Mokbel is trying to change his plea to major drug trafficking charges from guilty to
not guilty after revelations that Victorian police officers have not been swearing affidavits.

Mr O'BRIEN couldn't explain why he didn't change the practice and apologised.

AAP RTV df/gfr/crh

KEYWORD: LEGAL: MOKBEL (MELBOURNE)

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