Police probe into hotel ‘bug’
Police are investigating a suspicious ‘‘electronic device’’ found at the All Blacks team hotel in Sydney but say they only became aware of the matter via a media report five days after it was originally found.
It is understood a sophisticated listening device was found in the All Blacks’ team room at their Intercontinental Double Bay hotel on Monday ahead of the Bledisloe Cup opener last night.
Police confirmed the object was located in a chair, while NZME reported ‘‘foam of the seat appeared to have been deliberately and carefully cut to make way for the surveillance device and then sewn or glued back together to be almost undetectable’’.
Rose Bay Local Area Commander Superintendent Brad Hodder said the matter was under investigation.
‘‘We’ve started an investigation as to what that device is,’’ Hodder said. ‘‘A delay in any investigation is always tough but we’ll look at that information and treat it accordingly. Any offence is serious, we will be looking at all the avenues.’’
Asked whether he had ever seen such a device in his time, Hodder replied: ‘‘I personally haven’t, no.’’
New Zealand Rugby confirmed an investigation was under way with NZR chief executive Steve Tew saying: ‘‘A listening device was found in a meeting room this week during a routine security check.’’
Tew later told reporters yesterday the device could have picked up secret team discussions, however he was not prepared to point the finger at anyone just yet.
‘‘There was an All Blacks team meeting there earlier in the week,’’ Tew said. ‘‘If the device was working properly – and we don’t know that for sure – then they would have overheard that [information]. But we don’t think it’s a catastrophic issue for the game. We haven’t made any accusations of anybody, so there’s no room for denials.’’
ARU chief executive Bill Pulver said there was no way the game’s governing body had anything to do with the device.
‘‘Look, I have literally just seen a note from Steve Tew telling me about this . . . the two unions have agreed to hand the matter over to the police,’’ Pulver told NZME. ‘‘Mate, of course [the ARU is not involved]. It is completely ludicrous. I just think it’s a ludicrous concept that there are listening devices being placed in team rooms. I don’t know how that could happen.
‘‘I’m utterly disappointed the story would break on match day [yesterday] and frankly, that’s all I’ve got to say. We will deal with this matter after the rugby. I simply don’t know the background but I’m clearly disappointed it gets out to the media on the day of a Bledisloe Cup match.’’
The ARU did not want to make further comment on the matter while the Intercontinental Hotel in Double Bay did not return Fairfax Media’s request for comment.
The allegations are incredibly serious for the sport, with ramifications expected to be farreaching, particularly on the eve of the Bledisloe Cup opener.
According to Australian federal law: ‘‘Generally, it is an offence to knowingly install, use or cause to be used, or maintain a listening device to record a private conversation, whether or not the person is a party to that private conversation.’’
There is no suggestion the Wallabies were involved in the matter being investigated.
The State Surveillance Branch will use security footage from the hotel to try and see whether someone planted the device.