Judge jokes at ‘KGB’ plot
A POLICE officer has been accused of revealing the secret identity of an alleged dodgy doctor to the Russian government while investigating the case.
Allegations of improper evidence gathering and interference from Russian officials in a Gold Coast court matter were aired yesterday in a pretrial for Vincent Berg in the Southport District Court.
Berg, aged in his 60s and a Soviet political refugee, has been charged with more than 24 offences, including grievous bodily harm and fraud.
He allegedly forged his medical degree then worked as a psychiatrist in Townsville and on the Gold Coast from 1999-2002.
Berg’s defence team will allege Russian university staff are lying and Berg did obtain a medical degree in the Soviet Union, making him entitled to practice in Australia.
Defence barrister Adrian Donaldson said Queensland police exposed Berg’s identity to Russian authorities when overseas collecting evidence.
However, crown prosecutor Judith Geary argued Berg had travelled to Russia since becoming a political refugee in 1992 and freely disclosed his new name and details on a visa application. JUDGE DAVID KENT
Mr Donaldson argued Russian witnesses were siding with the prosecution because of a “political” agenda.
But the argument was met with incredulity from Judge David Kent QC, who noted that “the KGB hasn’t come over here to collect him and to take him to Russia”.
“They worked for the government, they are under a political regime,” Mr Donaldson said. “... The people who are supporting the prosecution of him are doing so because of a political agenda.”
Berg’s legal team argued for a stay on the matter as they wanted Russian witnesses to appear in person and believed Mr Kent should be excused from hearing the case because of perceived bias due to a previous role on the Medical Board of Australia.
The stay was rejected but the application to have Russian witnesses give evidence by video rather than fly to Australia was adjourned.
The court heard the matter, expected to go to trial on July 24, had been riddled with delays including prosecutors only able to contact witnesses via email and witness travel having to be approved by the Commonwealth AttorneyGeneral. “Couldn’t you just ... friend them on Facebook?” Mr Kent suggested.
Berg said outside court he was being persecuted by the Putin Government.
THE KGB HASN’T COME OVER HERE TO COLLECT HIM AND TO TAKE HIM TO RUSSIA