Terror faked for ‘cops to drink’

GOLD Coast police concocted an antiterrorism operation at the local turf club on Melbourne Cup day so they could ‘‘get on the drink’’, a court has been told.

They also purloined hydroponic equipment seized in drug raids to use in the CIB office fish tank, former detective David Whyte has alleged.

Mr Whyte has gone to court seeking compensation for psychological injuries he claims to have suffered as a result of workplace bullying at Gold Coast CIB.

He alleges he was bullied and harassed out of the police service in 2007 after exposing corruption, including ‘‘dodgy’’ search warrants.

A Southport magistrate last year rejected his claim against workers compensation body Q-Comp but he appealed to the Industrial Court which overturned the decision and ordered it back to court.

Mr Whyte broke down in the witness box yesterday while giving evidence of alleged ‘‘entrenched maladministration, workplace harassment and nepotism’’.

He told the court of incidents, including one on Melbourne Cup day in 2004, when a colleague allegedly made up a ‘‘dodgy operational order’’ targeting terrorism at the Gold Coast Turf Club.

Mr Whyte said the officer, who he named in court, had joked about drawing up the order so he and other colleagues could ‘‘get on the drink all day’’.

‘‘He had organised free tickets in the member’s stand,’’ he said. ‘‘It was outrageous . . . a disgrace.’’ Mr Whyte also accused the same officer of using equipment seized from a drug raid to light the CIB fish tank.

The officer had also stolen a marijuana plant and put it on the office window sill ‘‘in case he needed to plant it on somebody’’, Mr Whyte alleged.

He also alleged Burleigh CIB detectives were directed to draw up ‘‘dodgy’’ warrants to justify drug raids.

Under-cross examination by Q-Comp barrister John Dwyer, Mr Whyte admitted he had never reported the incidents to the Crime and Misconduct Commission until just before he left the police service in 2007.

He said this was because he feared reprisals from superiors and ‘‘wanted to protect my career’’.

‘‘It’s widely accepted in the police service that if you speak against the hierarchy, your career’s over,’’ he said.

Mr Whyte said he was ‘‘ignored, ostracised and undermined’’ by colleagues he described as ‘‘grubs’’ who humiliated him after he went to the CMC with his concerns in late 2006.

The hearing continues.

Former detective David Whyte.