AFP corruption scandal

TWO senior Australian Federal Police officers accused of being part of a “mafia-style group” have been sacked for “abuse of office” and two more have resigned amid the biggest corruption scandal to hit the national police force in decades.

The sackings and resignations follow a high-level investigation into the activities of the group dubbed the “Sydney Mafia” accused of fraud by using AFP credit cards to buy white goods, televisions, Xboxes,

as well as misappropriating office equipment and furniture.

The group was also in the frame for travel rorts, falsifying AFP records and time sheets, misappropriating AFP property and taking vehicles that were to be used for protecting

Defence Force properties for private use.

The investigation found that the officers had been acting in “collusion to engage in corruption and the coercion of others”. More than 20 serious corruption and misconduct complaints investigated by the anti-corruption watchdog, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, have been established against the four AFP officers.

The revelations come as it can be revealed 22 AFP officers have been sacked in the past two years and 39 AFP members suspended. The AFP has not said if any of those have been charged with any offence.

It is the biggest and most serious fraud and corruption investigation into the AFP since the secretive Harrison inquiry findings in the 1990s – which the AFP never released publicly – that led to the sacking of seven AFP officers.

AFP sources who spoke out about the scandal last year said they were warned not to talk about the investigation “in case it sparks a royal commission” into the activities of AFP Protective Service Officers.

But it can now be revealed the corruption investigation established that four AFP officers engaged in nine corruption offences and 12 serious misconduct issues, including failing to report corruption.

“The corrupt conduct ranged from private spending on AFP corporate credit card unauthorised acquittal of transactions, using commonwealth monies to fund nonbusiness-related travel, collusion to engage in corruption and the coercion of others,” the AFP has reported.

An ACLEI spokesman said “once an investigation is completed, the Integrity Commissioner provides a report to the Attorney-General and the head of the agency involved (AFP) … and may decide to publish that report … on the ACLEI website.” It has not yet been published.

All four officers involved were Protective Service Officers, who are trained in antiterrorist response tactics, close protection work and are responsible for guarding the prime minister, foreign diplomats and Defence Force properties.