Senior officer accused of nepotism lies
A SENIOR Gold Coast police officer accused of arranging a job for her boss’ daughter then lying about the alleged nepotism during a hearing at the Queensland corruption watchdog has rushed from court.
Superintendent Michelle Stenner was at Brisbane Magistrates Court before yesterday’s proceedings began but after police prosecutors told her she wasn’t required to appear, she left hurriedly in a waiting car before court opened for the day.
Stenner, who has been suspended, is before the courts having been charged with three counts of perjury and one offence of abusing her authority as a public officer.
According to court papers, Stenner allegedly signed a false and misleading recruitment document to dishonestly secure a civilian job in the police force for Amy Borland, daughter of Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Terry Borland.
The allegedly bogus employment document created “the perception of a transparent and independent recruitment process,” the court papers said. Stenner allegedly authorised and signed the document at the Surfers Paradise police station in May 2016.
During a subsequent investigative hearing at the Crime and Corruption Commission’s Fortitude Valley headquarters in August, Stenner allegedly “knowingly gave false testimony,” three times about speaking to witnesses due to be questioned over the “employment process of Amy Borland,” the court documents claim.
In one instance the alleged perjury was “about communicating with Terrence Borland regarding a witness who was to attend a confidential interview” at the CCC.
As part of her bail conditions, the 44-year-old must not contact witnesses. Her matter returns to court on October 16.