Police probe legal post
The investigation centres on allegations the former Lennon Government promised a senior legal appointment to an eminent person in return for certain favours.
Police are interviewing figures across the top echelons of Tasmania’s political, legal and public spheres in relation to the new inquiry.
The secret investigation has been under way for the past six to eight weeks, after approval by new Police Commissioner Jack Johnston.
Police are investigating if there is enough evidence to conclude that Section 111 of Tasmania’s Criminal Code has been breached.
Such a crime relates to the serious offence of bargaining for public office.
Under this law, it is illegal for anyone holding powerful positions, including politicians, to “obtain or agree to obtain a benefit of any kind for himself (or herself) or any other person, with regard to the appointment of any person to public office”.
The Mercury is unable to name individuals at the centre of the allegations for legal reasons and police are yet to decide if charges will be laid.
The existence of the sensitive police investigation and its potentially damaging political ramifications is now an open secret in top government circles.
Government insiders were deeply worried questions may be asked in Parliament about the police investigation during the past three weeks of the current sitting, leading to further political damage to the Labor Government.
The new inquiry is separate to a concurrent police investigation into the aborted appointment of the Resource Planning and Development Commission’s former commissioner Simon Cooper as a new magistrate.
That police inquiry is investigating the circumstances leading to the shredding last August of a document for Cabinet recommending Mr Cooper be appointed a magistrate by then attorney-general Steve Kons.
Mr Kons, who was deputy premier, was forced to resign as a minister earlier this year after he was caught lying to Parliament about events leading to Mr Cooper’s non-appointment.
The same team of five detectives, led by Tasmania Police commander Colin Little, is conducting both investigations.
Tasmania Police declined to comment yesterday on the progress of its continuing investigation.
Both inquiries have partly resulted from allegations contained in statutory declarations made to Tasmania Police last October by Mr Kons’ former adviser, Nigel Burch.
Mr Burch was sacked after writing a letter to former premier Paul Lennon critical of the way appointments were being made by the Government without proper process.
Tags: favour, lega, Legal