OZschwitz: Lies were fed to media, poLICE watchdog hears

THE police watchdog is investigating whether riot squad officers, unhappy with a magistrate's judgment, may have fed false information to a radio station and a newspaper to discredit him.

In what would be a highly improper assault on the NSW courts if proven, officers from the public order riot squad allegedly took umbrage when a Local Court magistrate, David Heilpern, found three policemen - including two riot squad officers - had possibly ''tweaked'' their evidence in a Taser case.

''This was an attempt to intimidate a judicial officer and … what magistrates of the Local Court have come to expect if they criticise police,'' one member of the judiciary told the Herald.

The allegations were uncovered as a result of the Herald's reports this week about a cover-up by police and the government of misuse and abuses during a 2008-09 trial of the controversial Taser in NSW.

In one case that resulted from the trial a Sydney man, Ali Alkan, was twice Tasered by police despite presenting no threat. He had been walking shirtless down the middle of Oxford Street in Surry Hills when police asked him to get off the road.

Although he did not become violent or try to run away, the addled man was Tasered, even though he was surrounded by as many as five police officers.

He was charged with the possession of a small quantity of drugs and later appeared in court. But so disapproving was Mr Heilpern of the police action, he threw out the drugs charges.

The police and the NSW Ombudsman are also investigating the incident, and now the Police Integrity Commission is also involved.

A week after Mr Heilpern's judgment, a story started circulating in the media that the magistrate had also recorded no conviction against the sister of the boxer Anthony Mundine for assaulting a riot squad officer.

Sources said the false information about Mr Heilpern's judgment was given to the Ray Hadley show on 2GB.

It was then passed on to the Sunday Telegraph. Both organisations published the reports.

Both organisations were contacted by the Attorney-General's Department and told about the errors.

They issued corrections, with Hadley apologising on air. But the affair left many concerned that it was no innocent mistake. ''This was absolute payback,'' a judicial officer said.

''If you look at the facts of the Mundine case, who was the police officer alleged to have been assaulted? A member of the riot squad. Who had Heilpern criticised the week prior? Members of the riot squad.''

A number of other legal sources also contacted the Herald after reading a report on Tuesday about Mr Alkan to reveal the alleged intimidation. ''The intimidation of a judicial officer is a big deal and we should be very concerned about it,'' a senior barrister said.

When contacted this week the PIC said: ''The commission does not comment on matters that may or may not be the subject of investigation.'' The NSW police also would not comment.

LNK

OZschwitz: Lies were fed to media, poLICE watchdog hears

OZschwitz: Lies were fed to media, poLICE watchdog hears

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