AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2009
Tas: Tasmania police commissioner corruption charges thrown out
By Paul Carter
HOBART, Aug 5 AAP - Tasmania's suspended police commissioner Jack Johnston has been
cleared of corruption charges.
Mr Johnston was facing two charges of disclosing official secrets to the state government
but on Wednesday they were thrown out by Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice Peter Evans.
Justice Evans told the court the prosecution was doomed to fail on issues of duty and
authorisation.
Mr Johnston's lawyers had applied to Justice Evans for a permanent stay of proceedings.
Justice Evans on Wednesday ordered a permanent stay on proceedings, allowing Mr Johnston
to return to work if there is no appeal from the director of public prosecutions, sanctioned
by Premier David Bartlett.
Mr Johnston pleaded not guilty last year to supplying then police minister Jim Cox
and then premier Paul Lennon with details of an ongoing investigation into corruption
allegations against government MPs.
It was alleged the MPs being investigated would have benefited in their defence against
the corruption claims with Mr Johnston's information.
There was ultimately no legal finding of corruption against the MPs concerned.
Mr Johnston's lawyers had argued the briefings were protected under parliamentary privilege
and that under the Westminster system he, as head of the police department, was duty bound
to supply the frank and full information that his minister requested.
AAP pc/jnb/cdh
KEYWORD: JOHNSTON
2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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